Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Big Lake for 2026, and here is what he found: 2 family events, 1 of them free. They are Gingerbread House Workshop (December 7) and Jingle and Joy Holiday Party (December 17). We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Minnesota Christmas events for kids guide.
What Rally found in Big Lake
- 2 Christmas events for kids in Big Lake
- 1 free event, including Jingle and Joy Holiday Party
- Season: December 7 (Gingerbread House Workshop) to December 17 (Jingle and Joy Holiday Party)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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Free Christmas events for kids in Big Lake
Holiday eventFree
Jingle and Joy Holiday Party
- When: Thursday, December 17, 2026, 6 to 7:30 pm
- Where: Liberty Elementary, 17901 205th Ave NW, Big Lake, MN 55309 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Free, registration required
- Ages: Families
Expand to see the parent tip
Circle of Care and Connection and Parent Café host an evening holiday party for families at Liberty Elementary. Kids can make crafts, play games for prizes and decorate cookies, and the hosts welcome first-time families as warmly as returning ones.
The party is on Thursday, December 17, 2026, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at Liberty Elementary, 17901 205th Ave NW. It is free, and families are asked to register ahead through the form linked on the organizer's page. The Mainstreet Family Resource Center lists 763-595-1420 for questions.
Parent tip: It starts at 6:00 PM on a school night and includes cookie decorating, so a light early dinner beforehand works well. Fill in the online registration form before you go, since the hosts ask for sign-ups even though the party is free.
- Host
- Main Street Family Services (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Liberty Elementary, 17901 205th Ave NW, Big Lake, MN 55309 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Big Lake events every week
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Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 1 more Big Lake event researched for you.
- New events every week We research new events daily and send you one email a week with the new ones we find in Big Lake.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Big Lake before they fill up.
- Unlock the filters Find Santa visits, free events and weekend plans in one tap.
- Rally’s Christmas Eve Express and a free advent calendar Get early access to Rally the corgi’s Christmas Eve tracker, plus a free digital advent calendar to count down to Christmas.
- One-tap add to calendar Save any event to your Google, Apple or Outlook calendar so you never miss it.
Coming up on this page
- 2 Crafts
- 1 Breakfast and treats
- 1 Free
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Big Lake
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Holiday crafts
Gingerbread House Workshop
- When: Monday, December 7, 2026, 1 to 5 pm
- Where: Big Lake Public Library, 790 Minnesota Ave E Ste 500, Big Lake, MN 55309 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed on the organizer's page; registration required by phone
- Ages: All ages; planned for families
Expand to see the parent tip
The Friends of the Big Lake Library hold their annual gingerbread house making day at the Big Lake Public Library. Families build and decorate together, and every supply is provided, so there is nothing to bring from home.
It takes place on Monday, December 7, 2026, with the activity listed from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. Registration is required and is taken by phone at 763-263-6445. The listing is open to all ages and does not mention a fee.
Parent tip: Spots are reserved by calling the library rather than online, so phone early and ask what time within the 1:00 to 5:00 PM window your family should arrive. It falls on a Monday afternoon, so school-age kids may only be able to make the later part.
- Host
- Big Lake Public Library (Great River Regional Library) (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- Big Lake Public Library, 790 Minnesota Ave E Ste 500, Big Lake, MN 55309 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Big Lake events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Big Lake daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Big Lake.
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We check every event above on the host’s own page for the date, time and cost, plus the things parents ask about, like sign-ups and ages. Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Minnesota Christmas train rides page.
See every event on a December calendar
Plan your December
When each Big Lake Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Gingerbread House Workshop in Big Lake on December 7; the last runs to December 17. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Gingerbread House WorkshopBig Lake · Dec 7
- Jingle and Joy Holiday PartyBig Lake · Dec 17
Looking further afield? Our Minnesota Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Delano, MN, Minneapolis, Saint Paul and Taylors Falls. The national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first ride on a California train, hand-painted in watercolor. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon2026 Christmas events are coming in late November
More Christmas events arrive in late November. We add them here as soon as we confirm them.
The story of Christmas in Big Lake
Before home refrigerators, much of the ice that filled Twin Cities iceboxes was cut from Big Lake, the lake this Sherburne County city is named for. These days winter in town brings gingerbread houses at the public library and a free family holiday party at Liberty Elementary.
How Big Lake celebrates
Two community groups stand behind the holiday events listed for Big Lake. The Friends of the Big Lake Library hold what they call their annual gingerbread house making day at the Big Lake Public Library on Monday, December 7, 2026, with all supplies provided and phone registration required. Ten days later, on Thursday, December 17, Circle of Care and Connection and Parent Café host the Jingle and Joy Holiday Party at Liberty Elementary, with free crafts, games, prizes and cookie decorating. The party is listed under the Mainstreet Family Resource Center, and its page notes partial funding from the Initiative Foundation, a regional foundation.
Fun facts about Christmas in Big Lake
Big Lake went by the name Humboldt until 1867. The town grew up around harvesting ice from Big Lake and Mitchell Lake, and a railway station was built in 1871 so the ice could be moved quickly. Both the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railroad served the town. The 2020 census counted 11,686 residents.
Traditions today
- Gingerbread house making day: The Friends of the Big Lake Library describe their family gingerbread workshop at the Big Lake Public Library as an annual event, with every supply provided.
- Jingle and Joy Holiday Party: Circle of Care and Connection and Parent Café gather families at Liberty Elementary for free crafts, games, prizes and cookie decorating.
- Big Lake and Mitchell Lake: The two lakes, joined by a small channel on the north side of Big Lake, were once harvested for ice each winter.
- Trains through town: Amtrak's Empire Builder passes through Big Lake on BNSF tracks without stopping, something young train fans can watch for in any season.
A fact for kids
Long before freezers, blocks of ice were cut from Big Lake in winter and sent off by train to keep food cold in Twin Cities iceboxes.
Questions about Christmas in Big Lake
When was Big Lake founded?
The Wikipedia article does not give a founding year. It says the town was called Humboldt until 1867 and was established to harvest ice from Big Lake and Mitchell Lake, with a railway station built in 1871 so the ice could be shipped quickly.
How did Big Lake get its name?
The city takes its name from Big Lake, the lake whose winter ice was once shipped to the Twin Cities for use in iceboxes. A small channel on the lake's north side connects it to Mitchell Lake. Before 1867 the community was known as Humboldt.
What railroads served Big Lake?
A railway station was built in 1871, and the town was served by both the Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railroad, later Burlington Northern and now BNSF Railway. The Northern Pacific station burned in 1918, and the two railroads later shared a depot that no longer stands.
Can you still catch a train in Big Lake?
Big Lake station was the northern end of the Northstar Commuter Rail line to downtown Minneapolis until bus service replaced the line in January 2026. Amtrak's Empire Builder passes through on BNSF tracks but does not stop. The nearest Amtrak station is St. Cloud, 28 miles northwest.
What happens at Christmas in Big Lake?
The listed events are the annual Gingerbread House Workshop at the Big Lake Public Library on Monday, December 7, 2026, and the Jingle and Joy Holiday Party at Liberty Elementary on Thursday, December 17, 2026, which offers crafts, games, prizes and cookie decorating.
Who organizes the Christmas events in Big Lake?
The Friends of the Big Lake Library sponsor and run the gingerbread day at the public library, part of Great River Regional Library. The holiday party is hosted by Circle of Care and Connection and Parent Café and is listed under the Mainstreet Family Resource Center.
What is free at Christmas in Big Lake?
The Jingle and Joy Holiday Party on December 17, 2026, is described as a free event, though families are asked to register. The library's gingerbread workshop provides all supplies and its listing shows no fee, but it requires a phone reservation at 763-263-6445.
What is Big Lake known for besides Christmas?
The city is known locally for Spud Fest, an annual summer festival that celebrates all things potato and includes a large softball tournament. It is also home to the ice auger company Strike Master and hosts what is described as the largest youth football tournament in the Upper Midwest.
Where is Big Lake and how big is it?
Big Lake is in Sherburne County, about forty-one miles northwest of the Twin Cities, with part of the city along the Elk River. The 2020 census counted 11,686 residents. Once a spot for summer lake cabins, it is now considered an exurb with many daily commuters.
Sources
- Big Lake, Minnesota, Wikipedia
- Gingerbread House Workshop, Great River Regional Library
- Jingle and Joy Holiday Party, Main Street Family Services
Keep the Christmas magic going: track Rally the corgi on Christmas Eve, print free Christmas coloring pages, learn how to say Merry Christmas in 100+ languages, find train museums to visit with kids, or browse Christmas events in every Minnesota city.
Big Lake Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are happening in Big Lake in 2026?
Two are listed. The Friends of the Big Lake Library hold their annual Gingerbread House Workshop at the Big Lake Public Library on Monday, December 7, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 PM. The Jingle and Joy Holiday Party follows at Liberty Elementary on Thursday, December 17, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM.
Are there free Christmas events for families in Big Lake?
Yes. The Jingle and Joy Holiday Party on December 17, 2026, is described as free, with crafts, games, prizes and cookie decorating at Liberty Elementary. The library's Gingerbread House Workshop on December 7 provides all supplies, and its listing does not mention a fee, though it does not use the word free.
Which Big Lake holiday events need registration?
Both do. Gingerbread House Workshop spots are reserved by calling the Big Lake Public Library at 763-263-6445. The Jingle and Joy Holiday Party asks families to register through an online form linked on the Main Street Family Services event page, even though attending is free.
Where can kids decorate a gingerbread house in Big Lake?
At the Big Lake Public Library on Monday, December 7, 2026, between 1:00 and 5:00 PM. The Friends of the Big Lake Library sponsor the day and provide every supply. It is listed for all ages and planned as a family activity, with registration required by phone.
Is there an evening holiday event for working parents in Big Lake?
The Jingle and Joy Holiday Party runs from 6:00 to 7:30 PM on Thursday, December 17, 2026, at Liberty Elementary, 17901 205th Ave NW. Circle of Care and Connection and Parent Café host it, and the evening covers crafts, games, prizes and cookie decorating.
Is there a place to meet Santa in Big Lake?
Neither of the two listed events mentions a Santa visit. The Gingerbread House Workshop on December 7 and the Jingle and Joy Holiday Party on December 17, 2026, are both hands-on activity events, built around decorating, crafts, games and cookies instead of photos.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Big Lake?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Minnesota Christmas train rides guide. This Big Lake guide covers Santa visits, story times, light shows and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 10, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.