The holiday season kicks off on Nov. 21, when the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum opens Winter Lights, its popular light display. Winter Lights has been expanded to 14 vignettes on a walking tour in its third year! Four more 'drive-by' displays as visitors come in and park for the evening, including thousands of fairy lights on You Betcha, artist Patrick Dougherty's Game of Thrones inspired willow sculpture. Indoor areas feature dazzling scenery, including a 25-foot-tall live poinsettia tree!
Winter Lights Dates/Times: Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night
- Nov. 22-Jan. 5 (plus Dec. 23 and daily from Dec. 26-Jan.2)
- 5:00-9:00 p.m.
- Free with gate admission, $15 for ages 16 and up, free for 15 and under
Indoors: Warm up with cocoa in the Oswald Visitor’s Center and admire the Arboretum’s 25-foot poinsettia tree, as well as towering evergreen trees lush with botanical decor and thousands of fairy lights.
What's New:
- NEW! Free SW Transit shuttles on Friday and Saturday nights, hop on the shuttle at the East Creek Station, Chaska Transit (2120 Chestnut St. N., Chaska.) Skip lines into the Arb. Shuttles have a separate entrance and drop visitors off at the Visitor Center. Buy tickets at the shuttle stop. The first bus will leave Southwest East Creek Station at 4:30pm and last bus will return from the Arboretum at 9pm each night, with buses every 30 minutets.
- NEW! Learn more about University of Minnesota plant introductions featured in the displays including chrysanthemums, azaleas, apples and more!
- NEW: Stunning ice lanterns and sculptures featuring flowers and plants foraged at the Arboretum by local artist Jennifer Shea Hedberg, author of Ice Luminary Magic.
- NEW: Hot family-friendly food available in the cafe, cash bar.
2019 SPECIAL HOLIDAY EVENTS
Nov. 21 Great Hall Tree Lighting Party: Get in the holiday spirit as we unveil the Arboretum’s 25-foot poinsettia tree with a countdown, live music and lighting of the trees of the Great Hall to kick off the season of Winter Lights. Be the first to see the new, expanded Winter Lights displays! Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies. $10 member/$25 non-member/$5 children 15 and under. Registration
Dec. 6-8, Arboretum Auxiliary Sale: 9-4 Friday, Saturday, 11-3 Sunday. Find beautiful handmade gifts made by Auxiliary volunteers. The sale features knit wear apparel, felted ornaments, potpourri, wood crafts, gifts for pets, holiday arrangements and wreaths.
Dec. 13-14 December Gift Market, 4-8 p.m., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., more than 70 artisans, where you can find inspiration for even the most hard-to-shop-for recipients. Members free, non-$15, kids 15 and under free.
Dec. 12 and 19, Milk and Cookies with Santa: 5-9 p.m.: Snack on cookies and milk while sharing your wish list with the Jolly Old Elf. Make sure to stroll through Winter Lights! Tickets are $5 for children, free for Arboretum-member adults and $15 for non-member adults. Tickets
Dec. 3, New Year's Eve Winter Lights Party: 5-10:30 p.m. Dec. 31: You won’t want to miss the Arboretum’s first-ever family-friendly New Year’s Eve party! Stroll through the Arboretum’s magical winter lights display, enjoy live music from The Abiders, play games and count-down celebrations on the hour from 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adult Arboretum members, $30 for adult non-members and $5 for kids. Tickets
Jan 6-31, Experience the Arb, admission is free to the Arboretum! Come out, see the art shows, do yoga, have lunch, shop at the Gift & Garden Store, take a walk, there's always something fun to do here!
Nov. 23 – Dec. 21, Live Music Appearances: Free with gate admission
- Nov. 23, 10-11:30 a.m. Harpist Brayana Jeannet, Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center, 1:30-3 p.m. Westwind Big Band, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. Cathie English, Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center
- Nov. 24, 1:30-3 p.m. Bend in the River, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. Chanhassen High School Chamber Singers
- Nov. 30, 10-11:30 a.m. Brad Cattadoris, Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center, 1:30-3 p.m. Jerry Ensough, Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center, 5-6:30 p.m. Singers from Minnesota Chorale, MacMillan Auditorium
- Dec. 1, 1:30-3 p.m. Capri Big Band, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. Partners in Praise Girls Choir, MacMillan Auditorium
- Dec. 7, 10-11:30 a.m. Women of Song Choir, MacMillan Auditorium, 1:30-3 p.m. Flute Cocktail, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. The Westwind Five, Great Hall
- Dec. 8, 1:30-3 p.m. Celebration Brass, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. Star of the North, MacMillan Auditorium
- Dec. 14, 10-11:30 a.m. Mike’s Brass, Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center, 1:30-3 p.m. Arbor Bells, Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center, 5-6:30 p.m. Flute Loops Great Hall Oswald Visitor Center
- Dec. 15, 1:30-3 p.m. One Voice Mixed Chorus, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. Minnesota Mandolin Orchestra, MacMillan Auditorium
- Dec. 20, 5-6:30 p.m. Waconia Suzuki Ensemble, OVC Balcony
- Dec. 21, 1:30-3 p.m. Jazz on the Prairie, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. The Silverwinds Flutes, MacMillan Auditorium
- Dec. 22, 1:30-3 p.m. Messiah Singalong, MacMillan Auditorium, 5-6:30 p.m. The Prairie Brass, MacMillan Auditorium
PlantMaker Studio - Saturdays and Sundays
Drop-in anytime between noon - 4:00 p.m.
FREE with gate admission
December - January theme is Journey with Spices.
Get tropical this winter with spices! Experience spices from around the world with all five of your senses.
- Choose a spice to flavor your own fresh-baked gingerbread cookie
- Learn what might have been on your spice shelf 500 years ago
- Take a spice-seeking voyage around the Learning Center greenhouse
- Discover why these plants are known as healthy winter warmers
PlantMaker Studio runs every Sat and Sun year-round, though the themes change with the seasons. It's FREE with Arboretum admission, and is an at-your-own-pace drop-in activity in the Learning Center.
Open year-round, the Arboretum offers exciting benefits for the whole family, including free admission for children age 15 and under when accompanied by an adult member. The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum specializes in getting kids "up close and personal" with plants in a hands-on way. Join in the fun and explore the magical world of flowers, leaves, roots and stems through summer day camps and the Children's Garden. Young ones can experience green fun with an adult through our preschool programs and free play outside in the Arboretum's Green Play Yard. Families can explore a variety of nature topics together with free activities every weekend. With more than 1,200 acres of gardens and tree collections, prairie and woods and miles of trails there is always something new to explore.
Many programs and classes available for adults, families and schools. Check out the art galleries, library, dine at the restaurant and find something special at the gift shop. The Arboretum is a beautiful place for weddings, family pictures, events and more. Visit http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/ to learn more.
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