Celebrate the Season with Holiday Happenings in Alexandria

Regardless of what you celebrate, the holiday season is a FUN time of year. People and businesses alike are well-spirited and full of cheer. Whether your holiday fun is fueled by religion, the return of the sun, beautifully decorated trimmings, family time or simply the anticipation of a mythical old man flying in the sky with his sleigh… we all can find something to celebrate! Along with our new Winter Guide on our website to help usher in the winter, there are also plenty of fun events to enjoy. Let’s take a look at some of the enjoyable holiday happenings in the Alexandria Area this season!
Downtown is a great place to visit around the holidays. Stroll through a festive atmosphere while gazing at the store window displays alongside beautiful downtown lights and decorations. On top of having unique and excellent local businesses to shop for your Christmas lists, this year has some added fun and cheer to make your holidays brighter! During two promotions, the 12 days of Christmas & A Hometown Christmas Experience, stores are offering specials, prize drawings, discounts and registration for prizes with donation opportunities. Also new this year you can stop in any participating business for a prize registration slip to vote for your favorite holiday window display! See the details below.

 The holidays are never complete without an outing to the local theatre for a festive musical production. Alexandria Area Arts is proud to present the holiday favorite, White Christmas the musical. Featuring songs and dancing that will definitely get you in the spirit! Call in advance to reserve your tickets as seats may fill up fast.

The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train has been a tradition since it started in 1999. Alexandria is one of the lucky communities this train stops at every year! The Holiday Train has a beautiful light display on each railcar, a live music performance and raises cash and food donations for local food banks. This special stop is happening in Alexandria on Sunday, December 14^th at 11:45am at the railroad intersection on 8^th Ave and Nokomis. It’s a free event but attendees are encouraged to bring their holiday spirit and a non-perishable food or cash donation for the local food shelf.

It’s time to try something new! Did you know Alexandria is still home to a radio theatre program? Before television, radio variety shows were the primary source of entertainment. I can almost picture the old days when a family would gather around an old radio to listen to some stories. Now you can be part of the live studio audience on Saturday, December 13th at 7pm at Lakes Area Radio Theatre. Come and witness living history! The show being played is a holiday comedy called “I’m Dreaming of a tropical Christmas.” Find out what happens when the North Pole turns topical and gets inundated with tourists. Will Santa be able to turn this around, or will the greedy travel agent turn Christmas into just another day at the beach? Find out for yourself in person! Show is only $5.

Break out of the ordinary with one of Carlos Creek Winery’s Christmas Murder Mystery dinners! There will be singing, dancing and murder! Ebenezer Scrooge is being his old self again, and someone bumps him off. Who could have done it? Find out at “A Dickens of a Killing.” Dates are December 12^th and 13^th at 7pm. These murder mysteries usually sell out so get your tickets soon at www.carloscreekwinery.com

There is still so many more holiday events, like the Holiday Concert by Central Lakes Symphony Orchestra, Holly Jolly Kids Christmas at the Historical Society, The Living Nativity and the Christmas Concert at the new Alexandria Area High School (two concerts). Be sure to check out everything at our events calendar for continual updates. And of course Santa is coming to town as well, so see below for his schedule at the Viking Plaza Mall. Have a joyous and Happy Holiday Season!