Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Saint Paul for 2026, and here is what he found: 2 family events. They are PJs with Santa (December 4) and North Pole Express (from December 4). 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 Saint Paul
- 2 Christmas events for kids in Saint Paul
- Meet Santa: PJs with Santa (December 4) and North Pole Express (from December 4)
- Season: December 4 (PJs with Santa) to December 13 (North Pole Express)
- Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10
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All 2 events
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Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Saint Paul
Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.
Santa visit
PJs with Santa
- When: Friday, December 4, 2026, 5:30 to 7:30 pm (The city's announcement gives the date only; the hours come from the event listing, so confirm them when you register.)
- Where: 661 County Rd F E, Vadnais Heights, MN, Saint Paul, MN 55127 (opens in maps)
- Cost: No price listed, pre-registration required
- Ages: Not listed on the organizer's page
Expand to see the parent tip
The City of Vadnais Heights hosts an evening with Santa where, going by the name, pajamas are the dress code. The city's announcement promises photos with Santa, games and treats.
It is on Friday, December 4, 2026, listed for 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., and pre-registration is required. The city's announcement does not state a price or name the room, so confirm both, along with the hours, on the city's website when you sign up. This one is in Vadnais Heights, not in Saint Paul itself.
Parent tip: Register before you mention it to the kids, because the city requires sign-up ahead of time. It falls on the same Friday the North Pole Express opens at Union Depot, so pick one Santa for that evening.
- Host
- City of Vadnais Heights (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- 661 County Rd F E, Vadnais Heights, MN, Saint Paul, MN 55127 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Saint Paul events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Saint Paul daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Saint Paul.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
Rally’s Christmas research
Rally the corgi has 1 more Saint Paul 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 Saint Paul.
- Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Saint Paul 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 Santa
- 1 Zoos and museums
- 1 Trains
Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Saint Paul every week.
Santa visit
North Pole Express
- When: Fri December 4 (1:30 to 7:30 pm), Sat December 5 (10 am to 7:30 pm), Sun December 6 (10 am to 4:30 pm), Thu December 10 (1:30 to 7:30 pm), Fri December 11 (1:30 to 7:30 pm), Sat December 12 (10 am to 7:30 pm) and Sun December 13 (10 am to 4:30 pm), 2026 (Runs December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13. The hours shown are each day's operating window, and a ticket is for one train time within it.)
- Where: St. Paul Union Depot, 214 4th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101 (opens in maps)
- Cost: Ticket required for every passenger, infants included; no prices shown in the page text
- Ages: All ages; every passenger needs a ticket, including infants
Expand to see the parent tip
Families board restored vintage rail cars at St. Paul Union Depot for a ride to a North Pole set up at the east end of the depot property. Children write letters to Santa on the way out, then Santa meets the train and rides back, walking through the cars to greet each child and collect the letters. Back inside the depot there is a holiday treat supplied by BNSF Railway, plus more children's activities.
The 2026 run is December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13: Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The whole outing takes about an hour and a half, including roughly an hour on the train. Everyone needs a ticket, newborns included, in either Coach or the limited First Class, which adds priority boarding, a treat on board, more time with Santa and a keepsake.
Parent tip: Check-in opens an hour before your train, boarding starts 15 minutes ahead and the gate closes 5 minutes before departure, so allow for the one-way streets and the long walk through the depot to the ticket counter above the Kellogg Boulevard entry. Strollers can be parked in a secure spot while you ride, and the organizers say to dress for the weather.
- Host
- Friends of the 261 (opens in a new tab)
- Address
- St. Paul Union Depot, 214 4th St E, Saint Paul, MN 55101 (opens in maps)
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
New Saint Paul events every week
Rally researches Christmas events in Saint Paul daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Saint Paul.
Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)
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 Saint Paul Christmas event for kids happens
The first is PJs with Santa in Saint Paul on December 4; the last runs to December 13. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- PJs with SantaSaint Paul · Dec 4
- North Pole ExpressSaint Paul · Dec 4 to Dec 13
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 Minneapolis, Delano, MN, Taylors Falls and Big Lake. 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 Saint Paul
Saint Paul was once known as Pig's Eye, after a bootlegger's tavern, until missionary Lucien Galtier built a log chapel in 1841 and told the settlers to take the chapel's name instead. The city that later became the home base of James J. Hill's railroad empire still marks Christmas with a train, the North Pole Express at Union Depot.
How Saint Paul celebrates
Christmas for families in Saint Paul runs on rails. The nonprofit Friends of the 261 stages what it calls its annual North Pole Express at St. Paul Union Depot on December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13, 2026, carrying families in restored historic rail cars to a North Pole at the east end of the depot property. The all-volunteer group describes the trip as its largest yearly fundraiser, and BNSF Railway supplies a holiday treat for the children. More children's activities fill the depot, and the organizers point riders to a European Christmas Market from November 20 to December 20. In Vadnais Heights, the city hosts PJs with Santa on December 4.
Fun facts about Christmas in Saint Paul
The Minnesota Territory was created in 1849 with Saint Paul as its capital, and the settlement remained a town until 1854. Its name comes from a log chapel that missionary Lucien Galtier had built in 1841. In 1858 more than 1,000 steamboats served Saint Paul, and the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railways were later headquartered in the city before becoming part of today's BNSF Railway. The 2020 census counted 311,527 residents, which makes Saint Paul the second most populous city in Minnesota.
Traditions today
- North Pole Express: Friends of the 261 runs its annual holiday train from St. Paul Union Depot to the North Pole and back on December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13.
- Letters to Santa on the train: Children write their letters during the ride, and Santa walks the cars on the way back to collect them.
- St. Paul Union Depot: The depot handles check-in, a holiday treat from BNSF Railway and extra children's activities, and the organizers encourage families to explore the art and history inside.
- European Christmas Market: The North Pole Express page lists a European Christmas Market open Fridays through Sundays from November 20 to December 20.
- PJs with Santa in Vadnais Heights: The City of Vadnais Heights invites registered families to an evening of Santa photos, games and treats on December 4.
A fact for kids
Saint Paul almost lost its job as the capital in 1857. Lawmakers voted to move the capital to Saint Peter, but a legislator named Joe Rolette took the text of the bill and went into hiding, which stopped the move.
Questions about Christmas in Saint Paul
When was Saint Paul founded?
The Legislative Assembly of the Minnesota Territory established the Town of Saint Paul as its capital in November 1849. A community had already grown up there by the early 1840s, and Saint Paul remained a town until 1854.
How did Saint Paul get its name?
In 1841 Catholic missionary Lucien Galtier had a log chapel built on the bluff above the riverboat landing and named it for St. Paul. He told the settlers to adopt the chapel's name for their settlement and to stop calling it Pig's Eye.
Why was Saint Paul once called Pig's Eye?
By the early 1840s locals called the community Pig's Eye or Pig's Eye Landing, after the popular tavern of a fur trader turned bootlegger nicknamed Pig's Eye Parrant. He had set up business just outside the Fort Snelling military reservation.
Why is Saint Paul known as a railroad city?
Industrialist James J. Hill founded his railroad empire in Saint Paul. The Great Northern Railway and the Northern Pacific Railway were both headquartered in the city until they merged into the Burlington Northern, and today they are part of BNSF Railway.
What happens at Christmas in Saint Paul for kids?
The main event is the North Pole Express at St. Paul Union Depot on December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13, 2026. Families ride vintage rail cars to the North Pole, children write letters to Santa, and Santa rides back to meet every child.
Who organizes the North Pole Express?
The nonprofit Friends of the 261 runs it with an all-volunteer crew. The group calls the North Pole Express its largest yearly fundraiser and says the proceeds help it operate and maintain its collection of restored historic rail cars.
Where does the North Pole Express leave from?
It leaves from St. Paul Union Depot. Passengers check in at the ticket counter in the Concourse, directly above the Kellogg Boulevard entry, starting one hour before their train. The North Pole stop is at the east end of the depot property.
Is anything free at Christmas in Saint Paul?
The organizer pages used here do not describe a free event. Every North Pole Express passenger needs a ticket, including infants, and the City of Vadnais Heights gives no price for its PJs with Santa evening on December 4, which requires pre-registration.
How many people live in Saint Paul?
The 2020 census counted 311,527 residents, making Saint Paul the second most populous city in Minnesota. Together with neighboring Minneapolis it forms the core of the Twin Cities metropolitan area, which has around 3.7 million residents.
How cold is Saint Paul at Christmas?
Winters in Saint Paul are frigid and snowy, and cold Arctic air can settle over the city in late December. That is one reason the North Pole Express organizers remind families to dress for the weather, whichever rail car they ride in.
Sources
- Saint Paul, Minnesota, Wikipedia
- North Pole Express, Friends of the 261
- Vadnais Heights, MN Official Website, City of Vadnais Heights
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.
Saint Paul Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What is the best Christmas event for kids in Saint Paul to start with?
Start with the North Pole Express at St. Paul Union Depot, which runs December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13, 2026. Families ride vintage rail cars to a North Pole at the east end of the depot grounds, kids write letters on the way, and Santa boards to meet each child on the return trip.
Where can kids meet Santa in Saint Paul?
Santa greets the North Pole Express when it reaches the North Pole, then rides back to Union Depot and walks through the cars to meet each child and collect letters. Outside the city, the City of Vadnais Heights hosts PJs with Santa on Friday, December 4, 2026, with photos, games and treats.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Saint Paul?
Neither event listed here is described as free by its organizer. The North Pole Express requires a ticket for every passenger, infants included, and the City of Vadnais Heights gives no price for PJs with Santa on December 4. The train organizers do suggest taking time to explore the art and history inside Union Depot while you are there.
Which Saint Paul Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?
Both of them. Every North Pole Express passenger needs a ticket, including newborns, and First Class seating is limited. Check-in opens one hour before each train and the gate closes five minutes before departure. PJs with Santa in Vadnais Heights on December 4 requires pre-registration through the city.
How long is the North Pole Express and when does it run?
The experience lasts about an hour and a half, with roughly an hour of that on the train. It runs December 4 to 6 and 10 to 13, 2026: Thursdays and Fridays from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m., Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Is there a Christmas market to pair with the North Pole Express?
The North Pole Express organizers point riders to a European Christmas Market running November 20 to December 20, 2026. Their page lists it as closed Monday through Thursday and open Fridays from 3:00 to 9:00 p.m., Saturdays from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Sundays from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Saint Paul?
Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Minnesota Christmas train rides guide. This Saint Paul 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.