Explore Minnesota Events Report for Dec 05 2007

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NORTHERN MINNESOTA

The Northland Arboretum in Brainerd will be the site of the SERTOMA WINTER WONDERLAND each Wednesday through Sunday evening, through December 30, with over 50 colorfully lit, animated displays. There will also be a Holiday Village where children can have their picture taken with Santa Claus. To find out more, and for rates and times, dial 218/829-8770, or visit www.sertomawinterwonderland.com

The BENTLEYVILLE TOUR OF LIGHTS, located in the city of Cloquet, will be offered daily through Saturday, December 29. This free family event features several million Christmas lights, 600-plus snowflakes suspended from trees, and 230 lighted reindeer scattered throughout 3 acres of woods. Santa will greet kids daily through December 23. Cider, coffee and cookies are even free of charge. Donations are accepted, and visitors are encouraged to bring nonperishable food and toy donations for the Salvation Army. To learn more, dial 1-800-554-4350, or check out www.bentleyvilleusa.com or www.cloquet.com

Ironworld, located in the city of Chisholm, will be the site of A FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS, from Thursday, December 6 through Sunday, December 9. Come see holiday trees decorated with lights and ornaments from around the world and across the Iron Range, and enjoy a holiday buffet, live entertainment, children's activities, reindeer, St. Nick, a free movie, and more! For further information, dial 1-800-372-6437, or visit www.ironworld.com

A WINTER WONDERLAND will be held Friday, December 7 throughout the city of Crookston, with refreshments and specials at downtown stores, as well as Santaland, and bonfires, caroling, music and sleigh rides in the park. For more information, dial 1-800-809-5997, or check out www.visitcrookston.com

The city of Barnesville will present HOMETOWN HOLIDAYS on Friday and Saturday, December 7 & 8, with a lighted holiday parade, "Breakfast & Pictures with Santa," a holiday tour of homes, and s'mores, hot chocolate and caroling in Friendship Park. To learn more, dial 218/354-2479, or visit www.barnesvillemn.com

A PARADE OF LIGHTS & CHRISTMAS PROGRAM will be held Saturday, December 8 in Pine River. Featured will be horse-drawn sleigh rides (snow permitting), a children's Christmas program, holiday bonfire, caroling, and of course the Parade of Lights, followed by a holiday fireworks display! To find out more, dial 1-800-728-6926, or check out www.pinerivermn.com

Downtown Brainerd will be the site of an OLD-FASHIONED DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY CELEBRATION on December 8, with horse-drawn trolley rides, Christmas Carol skits, a Christmas Doll Tea for parents and their children, Christmas crafts, a CatTales book signing and readings, and more. For further information, dial 1-800-450-2838, or visit www.explorebrainerdlakes.com

The CANADIAN PACIFIC RAILWAY HOLIDAY TRAIN will arrive at the Holmes Street Railroad Crossing in Detroit Lakes at 4:15pm on Friday, December 14, with performances by entertainers and musicians as cash and food donations are collected for local food banks. And on Saturday, December 15, head to Washington Square Mall in Detroit Lakes for a FREE KIDS MOVIE, SLEIGH RIDES, and PHOTOS & WISHES WITH SANTA. For more information, dial 1-800-542-3992, or check out www.visitdetroitlakes.com

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TWIN CITIES GREATER METROPOLITAN VICINITY

MACY'S HOLIDAZZLE PARADES will be offered each Thursday through Sunday, through December 23, along Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis. Each parade will feature brightly lit floats, marching bands, celebrity grand marshals and nearly 250 costumed characters from popular childrens' stories. Before or after the parade, head to Macy's in downtown Minneapolis for their annual ANIMATED HOLIDAY DISPLAY featuring the Nutcracker story. The display will be open during regular story hours through December 31. Both events are free! For further information, dial 612/376-SNOW, or check out www.macysholidazzle.com

The American Swedish Institute in Minneapolis will be the site of A NORDIC CHRISTMAS through Sunday, January 6. Come discover the holiday traditions of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland, with decorated trees and table settings. This year's theme is "Christmas of Light." The ILLUMINATION OF A SAINT: THE LEGEND OF SANTA LUCIA will also be offered through January 6, with photographs and story panels detailing Lucia's beginnings as a fourth-century Christian martyr, the legends surrounding her, and how the holiday is celebrated today. For more information, dial 612/871-4907, or visit www.americanswedishinst.org

WINTER ON THE FRONTIER will be held Saturday, December 8 at Historic Fort Snelling in St. Paul. Winter in the 1880s was cold, dreary and often deadly. Come learn how soldiers, settlers and servants struggled to make it through the harsh winter. This event will be repeated on Saturday, December 15. To find out more, dial 612/726-1171, or check out www.mnhs.org/fortsnelling

The Gammelgarden Museum in Scandia will be the site of LUCIA FEST on Sunday, December 9. Highlights include a Swedish worship service with fiddle music by candlelight, followed by breakfast and a program at the Scandia Community Center. To learn more, dial 651/433-5053, or visit www.scandiamn.com

A SKANDIA FESTIVAL will be held at the Landmark Center in St. Paul on December 9, with Scandinavian holiday traditions, ethnic music and dance, children?s activities, costumed characters, authentic Scandinavian vendors, and delicious lutefisk, Swedish meatballs, and other treats! For more information, dial 651/292-3276, or check out www.landmarkcenter.org

And just some of the upcoming concerts and performances will include:
THE BLENDERS at the Pantages Theatre in Minneapolis, December 7
THE KDWB JINGLE BALL 2007 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, December 7
KENNY G at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, December 12
DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL: THE ICE TOUR at the Xcel Energy Center, December 13-16
MICHAEL MCDONALD at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, December 16
THE HOLIDAY PAGEANT at the Pantages Theatre, December 17
R. KELLY at the Target Center, December 20
LOYCE HOULTON'S NUTCRACKER FANTASY at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, December 20-24
SOUL ASYLUM at First Avenue in Minneapolis, December 21
PETER OSTROUSHKO at the Fitzgerald Theater in St. Paul, December 22
DAVE PIRNER & THE VOLUNTEERS at The Cabooze in Minneapolis, December 28
The GEAR DADDIES at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, December 28
DON RICKLES at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, December 30 & 31
SINBAD at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel in Prior Lake, December 30 & 31
TRAMPLED BY TURTLES at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, December 31
VH1'S ROCK OF LOVE NEW YEARS EVE with BRET MICHAELS at The Myth in Maplewood, December 31
BARRY MANILOW at the Xcel Energy Center, January 11, 2008
SESAME STREET LIVE : WHEN ELMO GROWS UP at the Target Center, January 16, 2008
BILL ENGVALL at the Historic State Theatre, January 18, 2008
THE 2008 U.S. FIGURE SKATING CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Xcel Energy Center, January 20-27, 2008
The MARTINA MCBRIDE WAKE UP LAUGHING TOUR at the Target Center, January 26, 2008
QUEENSRYCHE at The Myth in Maplewood, January 26, 2008
DANIEL TOSH at the Pantages Theatre, February 1, 2008
MATCHBOX TWENTY at the Xcel Energy Center, February 4, 2008
B.B. KING at Mystic Lake Casino & Hotel, February 5, 2008
SWEENEY TODD at the Historic State Theatre, February 5-10, 2008
MY FAIR LADY at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, February 20-March 2, 2008
The SMUCKER'S STARS ON ICE TOUR at the Xcel Energy Center, February 26, 2008
FOO FIGHTERS at the Target Center, February 27, 2008
BON JOVI at the Xcel Energy Center, March 18, 2008
JERSEY BOYS at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, March 19-April 20, 2008
DISNEY'S HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL NATIONAL STAGE TOUR at the Historic State Theatre, April 1-6, 2008
The HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS at the Target Center, April 11 & 12, 2008
JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 2-4, 2008
MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT at the Historic Orpheum Theatre, May 27 through June 1, 2008
CELINE DION at the Target Center in Minneapolis, October 30, 2008
For further information on any of these performances or events, please contact Ticketmaster at 651/989-5151

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SOUTHERN MINNESOTA

A CHRISTMAS WONDERLAND ON THE TOWN will be offered in the city of Blue Earth through December 31. Come drive the 3-mile loop through Blue Earth and enjoy all of your favorite animated holiday light displays. For further information, dial 507/526-2916, or visit www.blueearthchamber.com

The Church of Christ-Christian in Albert Lea will be the site of the 14TH ANNUAL DRIVE-THROUGH "LIVE NATIVITY" on Friday and Saturday, December 7 & 8. Admission is free. For more information, dial 507/373-0814, or check out www.albertleatourism.org

A LIGHTED CHRISTMAS PARADE & WINTER WONDERLAND CELEBRATION will be held throughout the city of Caledonia, Friday through Sunday, December 7-9. In addition to a festive parade, there will ice sculpture carving demonstrations, a sing-along with Santa, a DJ and dancing, hot air balloon launches, Breakfast with Santa, a relic snowmobile show, Christmas caroling throughout town, fire house tours and games, and much more! For further information, dial 507/725-3450, or visit www.caledoniamn.gov

Historic Wabasha will offer a CHRISTMAS TOUR on Saturday, December 8, with a chance to tour various private homes, bed & breakfasts, and hotels, all decked out for the holidays. Complimentary appetizers and beverages will be served after the tour. To find out more, dial 1-800-565-4158, or check out www.wabashamn.org

CHRISTMAS ON HISTORIC BROADWAY will be held Saturday, December 15 in the town of Spring Valley. Highlights include a lighted Christmas parade, Supper with Santa, story time theater, Historical Society home tours, carolering downtown, a cookie sale, and a live nativity scene. To learn more, dial 507/346-7367, or visit http://springvalley.govoffice.com

Lake City will be the site of an OLD FASHIONED CHRISTMAS on Sunday, December 16. Featured will be sleigh rides, carolers, Christmas Card windows, a bonfire on the beach, chili, and gift wrapping at several stores. In addition, enjoy a LIVE NATIVITY SCENE at First Lutheran Church. For more information, dial 1-800-369-4123, or check out www.lakecity.org

"The information in this report is provided courtesy of Explore Minnesota Tourism."