Celebrate the Holiday Season in Shakopee
Twinkling lights displays, festive concerts, and family activities: this holiday season, Shakopee and the surrounding area offers fun for all ages! Save the date and celebrate with these holiday events and activities.
Holiday Lights
Get in the spirit of the season with Sever’s Holiday Lights (November 28-December 25), a massive, drive-through display of over 2.5 million lights synchronized to a holiday soundtrack. After experiencing the half-mile route, park in the observation lot to enjoy the show and savor treats from holiday-themed food and drink vendors.
Stroll through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s Winter Lights (select evenings November 21-January 5) for a whimsical celebration of the wonder of nature. The mile-long path includes a new woodland-themed display, a 16-foot weeping willow, and firepits with s’mores supplies. The Arboretum’s Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building will be decorated with a 25-foot poinsettia tree, plus there will be live holiday music on select evenings for the Winter Music Series. Designated Family Nights will feature crafts, hot cocoa, and cookies, and special adult-only Date Nights include live music and ballroom dance lessons.
Shakopee Winter Wonderland is an impressive walk-through residential lights display, complete with Santa and seasonal treats. Check Facebook for the most up-to-date information.
Holiday Entertainment
Mystic Lakes’ Mystic Showroom is hosting national acts throughout the holiday season. Enjoy the multimedia spectacle of Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis (November 16-17). Christmas with the Tenors (December 13) will feature outstanding harmonies and plenty of charm. Sing along to classic hits and holiday carols at funk and soul icons Tower of Power: Holiday & Hits Tour (December 14).
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres will be performing Irving Berlin’s White Christmas through January 25—don’t miss the chance to see the classic holiday film brought to life on the Main Stage. Other holiday events at Chanhassen’s intimate Fireside Theatre include A Three Tenors Christmas (November 29-December 2), Rock & Roll Xmas Spectacular (December 3-8), Celtic Holiday Hooley (December 17-20), and Christmas on the Prairie (December 21-23). Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ full holiday schedule is available here.
Burnsville’s Ames Center has a genre-spanning schedule of a dozen unique Christmas concerts and performances. Highlights include the gravity-defying Cirque Musica Holiday Wonderland (November 24), Rocky Mountain High: A John Denver Christmas starring Rick Schuler (December 5-6), A Minnesota Nutcracker by Twin Cities Ballet (December 13-15), and the family-friendly musical Who Brought the Humbug (December 20-21). A full list of holiday events at the Ames Center is available here.
Celebrate the season with the whole family at Downtown Shakopee Holiday Fest on December 7. Starting at 2:00 p.m., you can get a photo with Santa, pick out some gifts at the vendor market, and enjoy a walk-through parade. The official tree lighting will follow at 5:30 p.m., with fireworks at 6:00 p.m.
Discover Shakopee this holiday season! Shakopee is home to Valleyfair, Canterbury Park and the Minnesota Renaissance Festival. It’s also conveniently located to area attractions like Chanhassen Dinner Theatres and Mystic Lake.