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Christmas with kids in Saint Cloud
In St. Cloud, Minnesota, Christmas has a German accent. Since 2013 a Weihnachtsmarkt with mulled wine, cocoa and crafts has filled a heated downtown parking ramp, right beside the community tree.
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The story of Christmas in Saint Cloud
How Saint Cloud celebrates
Downtown St. Cloud has two signature holiday traditions. The Winter Nights and Lights Parade travels along St. Germain Street on a December evening, ending at the River's Edge Convention Center. Its 14th annual parade was held in 2014, and an estimated 10,000 people came. Since 2013 the city has also hosted a German-style Weihnachtsmarkt with food, crafts and live music, paired with a tree lighting outside River's Edge. Dress warmly, since both events are outdoors in a Minnesota December.
Christmas last year in Saint Cloud
We could not confirm details of the 2025 season, so here is the most recent season we could verify, December 2024. The tree outside the River's Edge Convention Center was lit at 4:45 pm on Thursday, December 5, as the Minnesota Center Chorale sang carols. The Weihnachtsmarkt followed from 5 to 8 pm in the heated River's Edge Parking Ramp, with glühwein for adults, hot cocoa, coffee, pop, food and crafts. Parking in the ramp was free after 5 pm. It was the last holiday event for Mayor Dave Kleis.
Fun facts about Christmas in Saint Cloud
The Weihnachtsmarkt serves German treats such as Lebkuchen, a gingerbread-style cookie, along with bratwurst and sauerkraut. A holiday mug is a collectible each year, and the 2024 mug was silver. The 2014 parade was led by Anne Schleper, an Olympic hockey player from St. Cloud. Nearby towns add their own Santa days, with horse-drawn sleigh rides in Albany and Cold Spring and cookie decorating in Waite Park.
Trains and Christmas near Saint Cloud
We did not find a verified St. Cloud Christmas train story, but Minnesota has rail sites worth a family trip. The Northern Pacific Center in Brainerd preserves railroad repair shops, some dating to 1871. Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City began with a locomotive in 1963 and welcomes visitors by appointment. Gopher State Railway Museum near New Prague runs a caboose train on open days from May to October. Call ahead before visiting in winter.
- Northern Pacific Center: A 47-acre district of historic Northern Pacific shop buildings, some from 1871, that gives kids a feel for a working railroad town.
- Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum: A small private rail collection started in 1963, open by appointment only, so message ahead.
- Gopher State Railway Museum: A volunteer museum with a caboose train pulled by vintage diesel switchers on open Saturdays from May through October.
Traditions today
- Downtown Weihnachtsmarkt: A German-style market with cocoa, food, crafts and music in the River's Edge Parking Ramp, held since 2013.
- Community tree lighting: The tree outside the River's Edge Convention Center is lit with carols from the Minnesota Center Chorale.
- Winter Nights and Lights Parade: A downtown parade along St. Germain Street that drew about 10,000 people in 2014.
- Small-town Santa days: Nearby towns host Santa visits with sleigh rides, cookie decorating and crafts.
- Christmas tree farms: Local u-pick and precut tree farms offer holiday attractions for the whole family.
A fact for kids
St. Cloud has a German-style Christmas market where you can try Lebkuchen, a gingerbread-style cookie, and the market hands out a new collectible mug every year.
Questions about Christmas in Saint Cloud
When did the St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt start?
The downtown St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt has been an annual tradition since 2013. It is a German-style holiday market where vendors sell mulled wine called glühwein, hot cocoa, coffee, food and crafts. In 2024 it ran from 5 to 8 pm in the heated River's Edge parking ramp, so families stayed out of the wind.
What is the Winter Nights and Lights Parade in St. Cloud?
It is the downtown St. Cloud holiday parade, held on a December Saturday evening. The 14th annual parade took place in 2014, and about 10,000 people were estimated along St. Germain Street. Floats and performers pass by along the route. Check our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page for this year's date.
Where does the St. Cloud holiday parade go?
In 2019 the parade started at the west end of St. Germain Street and ended at the River's Edge Convention Center in downtown St. Cloud. It began at 5 pm on a Saturday. Routes can change from year to year, so look at the current listing in our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page.
Where can kids see the big Christmas tree in St. Cloud?
The community tree stands outside the River's Edge Convention Center downtown. In December 2024 it was lit at 4:45 pm while the Minnesota Center Chorale sang carols, just before the Weihnachtsmarkt opened at 5 pm. Our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page lists the current year's tree lighting date and time.
What is glühwein, and can kids drink it?
Glühwein is warm spiced mulled wine, a classic drink at German-style Christmas markets like the one in downtown St. Cloud. It contains alcohol, so it is for adults only. Children can instead enjoy hot cocoa, which the market also sold in 2024, along with coffee, pop, food and crafts.
What are Lebkuchen?
Lebkuchen are German gingerbread-style cookies. They were among the treats at the St. Cloud Weihnachtsmarkt in 2019, along with bratwurst and sauerkraut. For young kids, they are a fun way to taste a German Christmas tradition, much like soft spiced cookies you might already bake at home.
Is the St. Cloud Christmas market indoors?
Part of it is sheltered. In 2024 the Weihnachtsmarkt was held in the River's Edge Parking Ramp, which was heated and protected from the wind, and parking in the ramp was free after 5 pm. In 2019 the market also used portable and standing heaters. Dress warmly anyway, because Minnesota evenings in December are cold.
Does Santa come to St. Cloud?
Nearby Central Minnesota towns host Santa days with cookie decorating, sleigh rides and crafts. A 2018 roundup listed Santa visits in Albany, Avon, Cold Spring, Holdingford and Waite Park. See our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page for current visits.
What is a Santa Day in a small Central Minnesota town like?
A 2018 roundup described the small-town version: in Albany, face painting, horse-drawn sleigh rides, cookie decorating and Christmas vendors; in Avon, Santa and Mrs. Claus, kids' crafts and a community band; in Cold Spring, sleigh rides and cookie decorating downtown. They show what a small-town Santa day can look like near St. Cloud.
How do I explain a German-style market to young kids?
Tell them a Weihnachtsmarkt is a Christmas market from Germany, with little stands selling treats and crafts, music, and lights. St. Cloud has held one downtown since 2013. Let kids pick a cocoa or a cookie, listen for carols, and spot the vendors. It makes a short, cozy evening out.
What does Weihnachtsmarkt mean?
Weihnachtsmarkt is German for Christmas market (Weihnachten means Christmas and Markt means market). In St. Cloud, the name is used for the downtown holiday market with German food and drinks, live music and craft vendors. Kids often like saying the word, which sounds like VIE-nahkts-markt.
When is the St. Cloud parade and market held each year?
The 2019 parade and market took place on a Saturday evening in mid December, and the 2024 tree lighting and market were on a Thursday in early December. Dates move each year. Check our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page for the current schedule before you go.
How big is the St. Cloud holiday parade crowd?
In 2014 an estimated 10,000 people packed St. Germain Street for the 14th annual Winter Nights and Lights Parade. With a crowd that size, arrive early, bring warm layers and plan a meeting spot with kids in case anyone gets separated. The parade ends at the River's Edge Convention Center.
Who led the 2014 St. Cloud parade?
The grand marshal in 2014 was Anne Schleper, an Olympic hockey player and St. Cloud native. She led the parade along St. Germain Street, which drew an estimated 10,000 people that year. Hockey fans in your family may enjoy that fact.
What other Christmas happenings has St. Cloud had?
The city's holiday listings have included Santa visits, a downtown revitalization event with live music and food, a comedy show called Happy Ha-Ha-Ha-lidays: What the Elf?! at Pioneer Place on Fifth, and tours and teas at a restored mansion. The year was not stated, so check current schedules in our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page.
Are there Christmas tree farms near St. Cloud?
Yes. A St. Cloud area holiday listing mentions Plants Beautiful Christmas Tree Farm, with u-pick and precut trees and holiday attractions for the whole family. Cutting your own tree can be a fun family outing. Call ahead for current hours.
Are there railroad museums near St. Cloud for Christmas-loving train fans?
Yes, several Minnesota rail sites are within a few hours. The Northern Pacific Center in Brainerd is a 47-acre district of historic railroad shops, some from 1871. Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City is by appointment only. Gopher State Railway Museum near New Prague opens the first Saturday of each month from May through October.
Can kids see real locomotives near St. Cloud?
Kids can see vintage engines at the Gopher State Railway Museum near New Prague, which runs a caboose train behind vintage diesel switchers on its open days, May through October. Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum in Chisago City started its collection in 1963 with a locomotive. Check hours before driving, since winter visits may not be possible.
How do I find this year's Christmas events in St. Cloud?
Our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page lists confirmed dates for the current season, including holiday tree lightings, library story times and Santa visits when hosts have published them. Local sources such as the downtown council and the city also post updates, so check again as December gets closer.
Is there free parking at the St. Cloud Christmas market?
Parking in the River's Edge ramp was free after 5 pm at the 2024 tree lighting and Weihnachtsmarkt, as Mayor Dave Kleis noted. Rules can change from year to year, so confirm in our St. Cloud Christmas events guide on this page. Arriving a little early also helps you find a spot close to the tree before the carols begin.
Sources
- St. Cloud annual tree lighting, WJON
- Holiday spirit lights up downtown St. Cloud, WJON
- St. Cloud's Winter Nights & Lights Parade Saturday Night, Minnesota's New Country
- Ho ho ho, Santa's coming to Central Minnesota, WJON
- Christmas topics, St. Cloud Live
- Northern Pacific Center, Rally Takes the Train
- Ironhorse Central Railroad Museum, Rally Takes the Train
- Gopher State Railway Museum, Rally Takes the Train