WILLMAR — As families finish eating their Thanksgiving leftovers, the focus is fully on the Christmas holiday and the fun, fellowship and cheer it brings. Families and friends looking to participate in holiday-themed activities and events don’t have to look far, as cities, organizations, and more fill the calendar.
Whether you’re looking for shopping opportunities, want to attend a concert, or want to make crafts, there are plenty of options.
Until December 29th
- Festival of Trees, Barn Theater, 321 Fourth St. SW, Willmar, Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and during performances of “Toyland: Holiday Family Musical Treat.” Be sure to check out our Holiday Forest, decorated with Christmas trees to showcase local organizations and interests.
Until December 31st
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Weather permitting, the Lights of the World holiday light display will be held on Robbins Island in Willmar every night from 5 to 10 p.m. Robins Island will become a holiday illuminated wonderland, where visitors can drive through illuminated displays set up around the park. Free will donations will be collected for local charities.
Until January 5th
- Kandi Kane Lane, Kandiyohi County Historical Society. Tour a museum decorated with holiday candy canes, make an ornament, write a letter to Santa, tour the Sperry House, and complete a treasure hunt. Regular admission prices apply during regular weekday business hours and from 10am to 2pm on December 2nd, December 16th, and December 30th.
December 7th – December 10th
- Barn Theater Presents “Toyland – A Holiday Musical Treat,” 321 Fourth St. SW, Willmar. Performances are Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for children ages 2 to 18 and $25 for adults. You can purchase at the theater box office or online.
December 9th
- Artist Market, Hollywood on Main, Montevideo, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local artists will exhibit and sell their work.
- Holly Jolly Palooza, Java River, Montevideo, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The coffee shop serves hot chocolate bars from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and has a holiday happy hour from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Masu.
- Holiday Market, Uptown Willmar, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Local vendors offer last-minute holiday shopping opportunities.Santa will be available for photos from 2pm to 4pm.
- X-mas Mason Jar Class, Rustic Designs Flower Farm, 25801 County Road 9 NE, Belgrade, 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m., class fee $20. Make a mason jar bouquet using burlap, winter vegetables, berries, pine cones, and ribbon. Register on his website at Rustic Designs.
- Visit with Santa, Wilmar Elks Lodge, 1-4 p.m.
- Magic Bob’s “The Magic of the Holidays” is a free, family-friendly magic show presented by the New London Library in the Little Theater Auditorium from 3 p.m.
- Fiddle & Christmas, Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg, 4 p.m. Sunburg area fiddle players will perform a selection of Christmas and fiddle songs. The event is free and open to the public. Coffee and snacks will be available after the performance.
- 18-Wheel Holiday Express in New London, 6 p.m. Santa will lead the lighting ceremony on the Bill Gossman Memorial Stage, followed by Green Lake Mall in Spicer at 6:45 and Kandiyohi in Kandiyohi at 7:30 p.m. Stops at Civic Center. Willmar YMCA parking lot #8.
December 10th
- Christmas Mason Jar Class, Rustic Designs Flower Farm, 25801 County Road 9 NE, Belgrade, 1 p.m., class fee is $20. Make a mason jar bouquet using burlap, winter vegetables, berries, pine cones, and ribbon. Register on his website at Rustic Designs.
December 12th
- Community Crafts: Wooden Rudolph, Willmar Community Center, 2:30-4:30 p.m., tuition $8. Register on the Willmar Parks and Rec website or call 320-262-5288.
- Sperry House Candlelight Tour, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, 6:30 p.m., $5 per person, contact the historical society to reserve a spot. Reservations are required. The candlelight tour focuses on Victorian holiday traditions and the Sperry family.
December 13th
- Magic Bob’s “The Magic of the Holidays” is a free, family-friendly magic show at the Lake Lillian Public Library in City Center at 6 p.m.
- Ornament Decorating Party, Impact Nutrition, Montevideo, 6-7pm Santa will be in attendance at the first Ornament Decorating Party hosted by Impact Nutrition. Admission is $25, and $5 of every admission will be donated to MN River Valley Cancer Connections.
December 14th to 16th
- Crown Bar Christmas, Little Theater Auditorium, New London. Doors open at 6pm, pre-show begins at 6:30pm and Crown Bar opens at 8pm.
December 14th to 17th
- Barn Theater Presents “Toyland – A Holiday Musical Treat,” 321 Fourth St. SW, Willmar. Performances are Dec. 7-9 and Dec. 14-16 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for children ages 2 to 18 and $25 for adults. You can purchase at the theater box office or online.
December 15th
- Bethesda’s Sweetest Christmas Soiree, Bethesda Grand, 901 Willmar Ave. SE, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In-person event held inside Carey’s Chapel with bake sale, stocking stuffer/gift certificate sale, silent auction, basket preview, and meat raffle. A meeting will be held. . The virtual event will begin at 7 p.m. on Bethesda’s YouTube channel or Facebook page with local and regional musicians, and there will be bidding on his Christmas baskets, gift certificates and quilts.
December 16th
- Salem Historical Church Christmas Program, 28547 220th St., Paynesville, 3 p.m. Carriage rides are available from 3 to 4:15 p.m., and the program begins at 4:30 p.m. The event is free, but , non-perishable foods and toys are welcome.
December 19th
- Sperry House Candlelight Tour, Kandiyohi County Historical Society, 6:30 p.m., $5 per person, contact the historical society to reserve a spot. Reservations are required. The candlelight tour focuses on Victorian holiday traditions and the Sperry family.
December 21st
- Winter Solstice Celebration, Downtown Granite Falls. Enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides, a bonfire downtown, snacks and snacks, a fairy village by the Christmas tree, carols, and more.
December 23rd
- Lillejulaften Service, Calvary Lutheran Church, 302 Olena Avenue, Willmar, 7 p.m. This annual Norwegian service includes scripture readings, prayers, sermons, and songs. The service is conducted in Norwegian, with full English translation provided. If you have a Bunard (Norwegian festive costume) or a Norwegian sweater, we recommend wearing it to serve. Let’s get to know each other over coffee and sweets.
December 29th
- Movies on Ice, Willmar Civic Center, 2707 Arena Dr., Willmar, 6 p.m. open skate, 7 p.m. Christmas movie screening, free. Skaters are asked to bring their own skates if they have them.
December 31
- New Year’s Eve Trivia Night, Kandiyohi Civic Center, Kandiyohi, 6-9 p.m.
- New Year’s Eve Bash with Knotties, Sunshine and Nightwalkers, New London, Little Theater Auditorium, 7 p.m.
Is something missing?
This is an incomplete list of holiday happenings in the West Central Tribune coverage area. If an event is missing, please email the details to news@wctrib.com.