Beat the rush and book ahead with our guide to the best holiday entertainment heading to Minneapolis this holiday season! Be it the magic of Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy or classic Christmas vibes with The Guthrie's Christmas Carol or the breathtaking feats of Cirque Du Soliel, there's something on the way for everyone.

Minneapolis' Finest

Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy
State Theatre
December 14 - 21
First performed in 1965, Nutcracker Fantasy is a vibrant and daring presentation of the world-loved Holiday classic, created by renowned choreographer Loyce Houlton. This popular production boasts a collective team of over 150 dancers as well as a 44-piece orchestra playing Tchaikovsky's iconic score. A dazzling family-friendly festive treat and the jewel in the crown of Minneapolis' holiday fare, don't miss the fantasy this Christmas!
BOOK HERE

A Christmas Carol
Wurtele Thrust Theatre
November 8 - December 28

The unmissable Guthrie holiday tradition!

Charles Dickens' quintessential Christmas cautionary tale returns in this spellbinding Broadway-style production adapted by Lavina Jadhwani and directed by Addie Gorlin-Hana that has become a special holiday tradition for all those who attend The Guthrie.  Join the infamously miserly businessman Ebeneezer Scrooge for a Christmas Eve journey he'll never forget as he's visited by three ghosts who seek to show him the error of his selfish ways.
BOOK HERE

Merry and Bright with Charles Lazarus
Orchestra Hall
December 14
Minnesota Orchestra's resident trumpeter Charles Lazarus takes center stage at the Orchestra Hall this December, leading a stellar band and special guests through a program of holiday classics! Expect swinging hits, festive funk and a brand new take on some of the most beloved Christmas music you thought you knew.

Lazarus' supergroup band includes talents such as keyboardist Tommy Barbarella (known for his work with Prince, Art Garfunkel, Nick Jonas and Spike Lee), Grammy winning percussionist Daryl Boudreaux and more, backed up by the Lazarus Brass and the Angelica Cantati Youth Choirs. Happy Holidays!
BOOK HERE

Family fun 

Cirque Du Soleil - T'was The Night Before...
Northrop Auditorium
November 26 - December 7
Grab your winter coat and get ready to jingle on down to Cirque du Soleil's amazing holiday spectacular, Twas The Night Before Christmas. You'll witness their 49th original production and first-ever holiday-themed show. Judging by their previous productions, this is one you certainly don't want to miss!
This unique take on the Christmas classic will bring joy and entertainment to the whole family, whilst teaching the act of kindness behind sharing and the joy of friendship. You'll also find out what really happens the night before Christmas through Cirque's eyes.
BOOK HERE

How The Grinch Stole Christmas
United Health Group Stage
November 4 - January 4
Based on the beloved children's novel by Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a whimsical and altogether magical festive family musical following the infamous thief in his quest to rid Whoville of Christmas forever! Don't miss the iconic green grump when he starts his adventure this holiday season!
BOOK HERE

Minnesota Orchestra - Troupe Vertigo: Cirque Nutcracker
Orchestra Hall
December 19 - 20

Experience the Nutcracker like never before!

Experience the Nutcracker as you never have before! Breathing new life and excitement into the time-honored holiday tradition, the Minnesota Orchestra joins forces with Los Angeles-based theatrical circus company Troupe Vertigo to present Tchaikovsky's enchanting Yuletide masterpiece. But instead of stage-based ballet, dancers and cirque artists tumble, cartwheel, and take flight as they tell the tale of Clara and her Nutcracker Prince!
BOOK HERE

Merriment and Music

Mannheim Steamroller
Orpheum Theatre
December 14
With the release of Mannheim Steamroller's first holiday album in 1984 came the kind of fame that made the act a veritable Christmas-time tradition. With founder and composer Chip Davis at the helm, the all-American music troupe continues to tour extensively, bringing Yuletide cheer to audiences throughout the US with a unique Neo-Classical take on popular carols and songs. It's no wonder that Mannheim Steamroller is the top-selling Holiday Act of all time!
BOOK HERE

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - The Ghost of Christmas Eve
Target Center
December 28

Hard rock around the Christmas tree!

The Trans-Siberian Orchestra is hitting the road once again in 2025, bringing their electrifying holiday rock opera to audiences across North America. Join them for a festive celebration that spans over two decades of Christmas magic! Along with The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, fans can expect some of the band's greatest hits, making it clear why audiences keep coming back year after year.

As in usual TSO fashion, The Ghosts of Christmas Eve tells a story through lasers, pyrotechnics and music, following the tale of a young runaway who takes refuge in an abandoned theatre on you guessed it, Christmas Eve! Over the course of the show, various spirits appear, helping the lost girl through the power of music.
BOOK HERE

Christmas Chuckles for Grown Ups

Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show
Pantages Theatre
December 8
The Queens of Christmas return for 2025 with another holiday spectacular for everyone, naughty or nice! Making the yuletide gay since 2018, this glorious collaboration from two of RuPaul's Drag Race's most glittering alumni is the perfect tonic for the hysteria of the holiday season, with boozy holiday cheer infused with good old razzle-dazzle song and dance numbers, copious amounts of eggnog and classic carols with a cheeky drag twist. If you're Nutcracker-phobic, then this double act has your alternative holiday entertainment sorted. Hometown heroes Jinkx will spice things up and Dela will cover them in sugar!
BOOK HERE