Christmas Events for Kids in Wasilla (2026)

Christmas Events for Kids
Written by Kelsey Cecil

Updated 4 min read

Rally the corgi has sniffed out the best Christmas events for kids in Wasilla for 2026, and here is what he found: 8 family events, 2 of them free. The magic runs from November 27 (Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)) through December 20, with Little Monkeys Christmas Shop (December 12), Winter Squishmallow Paint Class (December 12) and Pictures with Santa (December 13) along the way. We check every date on the host’s own website, and each listing links straight there. For the rest of the state, see our Alaska Christmas events for kids guide.

What Rally found in Wasilla

  • 8 Christmas events for kids in Wasilla
  • 2 free events, including Little Monkeys Christmas Shop and Pictures with Santa
  • Meet Santa: Pictures with Santa (December 13)
  • Also on the list: 1 Christmas show, 1 Christmas market and 5 craft workshops
  • Season: November 27 (Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)) to December 20 (Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some))
  • Every date checked on the host’s own site on Nov 10

Free Christmas events for kids in Wasilla

Holiday marketFree

Little Monkeys Christmas Shop

Expand to see the parent tip

Spunky Monkey Alaska is reviving the old school Christmas store as a private sale just for kids. Children shop on their own for the people on their gift list, nothing in the sale costs more than $10, and snacks are part of the afternoon.

The shop is open to young shoppers on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at 449 W Parks Hwy. It is free to attend, but parents are asked to RSVP on the store's events page with the number of kids coming. Spots are limited.

Parent tip: Sit down with your child beforehand to write a gift list and set a budget, since every item is $10 or less and the choosing is meant to be theirs. Send the RSVP early because the store is capping the head count.

Host
Spunky Monkey Alaska (opens in a new tab)
Address
Spunky Monkey Alaska, 449 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Spunky Monkey Alaska (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Rally’s Christmas research

Rally the corgi has 7 more Wasilla events 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 Wasilla.
  • Exclusive access to free events Find the free Christmas events in Wasilla 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

  • 5 Crafts
  • 2 Breakfast and treats
  • 1 Santa
  • 1 Shows
  • 2 Free

Enter your email to get new Christmas events in Wasilla every week.

Free. One email a week with new events in Wasilla. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy

Santa visitFree

Pictures with Santa

Expand to see the parent tip

Santa stops in at the Spunky Monkey Alaska shop for an afternoon of free photos with families. While you wait, there is a hot cocoa bar and a supply of warm cookies.

The visit is on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at 449 W Parks Hwy. It is free and open to everyone, and the store's events page does not ask for an RSVP for this one. Questions go to the shop's events email.

Parent tip: Bring your own camera or a charged phone, since the photos are do-it-yourself. With only a two-hour window, plan to arrive near 1:00 pm so a line does not eat into nap time.

Host
Spunky Monkey Alaska (opens in a new tab)
Address
Spunky Monkey Alaska, 449 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Spunky Monkey Alaska (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Ticketed and paid Christmas events for kids in Wasilla

Admission, tickets or a fee apply. Where a host has not posted a price yet, the listing says so.

Holiday show

Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some)

  • When: Fri November 27 (7 pm), Sat November 28 (7 pm), Sun November 29 (2 pm), Fri December 4 (7 pm), Sat December 5 (7 pm), Sun December 6 (2 pm), Fri December 11 (7 pm), Sat December 12 (7 pm), Sun December 13 (2 pm), Fri December 18 (7 pm), Sat December 19 (7 pm) and Sun December 20 (2 pm), 2026 (Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm, November 27 through December 20. The show runs about 90 minutes.)
  • Where: Valley Performing Arts, 251 W Swanson Ave, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
  • Cost: $25 adults; $22 children, students, seniors and military
Expand to see the parent tip

Three actors set out to stage A Christmas Carol, but two of them have done it too many times and refuse to go along. So the trio tries to cram in every holiday story and character they can remember instead, from the Grinch to Frosty the Snowman, with wild costumes and special effects. Valley Performing Arts presents the comedy with original music by Will Knapp.

There are twelve performances between November 27 and December 20, 2026, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults and $22 for children, students, seniors and military. You pick a specific performance when you buy through the theater's online ticketing page.

Parent tip: The show runs about 90 minutes, so the 2:00 pm Sunday matinees are an easier fit for younger kids than a 7:00 pm curtain. Children who already know the Grinch and Frosty will catch more of the jokes.

Host
Valley Performing Arts (opens in a new tab)
Address
Valley Performing Arts, 251 W Swanson Ave, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Valley Performing Arts (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Holiday crafts

Snowman Ornament Paint Night

Expand to see the parent tip

This two-hour evening class at the Paint Nights With Sara & Co. studio has each painter finish a snowman ornament painting in acrylic on an 11x14 canvas. The studio lists it as family friendly, but with a minimum age of 12 it is one for parents with tweens and teens.

The class meets on Friday, December 11, 2026, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the studio on Parks Highway. Seats are listed at a sale price of $40, down from $47, and are bought online ahead of time. All sales are final.

Parent tip: Leave the younger siblings at home for this one, since the age limit is 12 and up. Be at the door by 7:00 pm, because the studio gives your seat to the waitlist if you are more than 10 minutes late.

Host
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)
Address
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. Studio, 535 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Holiday crafts

Winter Squishmallow Paint Class

Expand to see the parent tip

Each painter picks one of three winter Squishmallow characters, a hot cocoa, a reindeer or a snowman, and paints it in acrylic on an 8x8 canvas. The studio describes the one-hour class as a good one for kids, with a minimum age of 5.

The class is on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the studio on Parks Highway. Seats are $25 each and the character is chosen when you book online. The listing showed 10 spots per character when it was checked, and all sales are final.

Parent tip: Have your child decide between the hot cocoa, the reindeer and the snowman before you check out, because the character is locked in at booking. If siblings want different ones, each character has its own small pool of seats.

Host
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)
Address
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. Studio, 535 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Holiday crafts

Tree Rex Paint Class

Expand to see the parent tip

Kids spend an hour painting the studio's Tree Rex design in acrylic on an 8x8 canvas. The suggested age is 5 and up, and the small canvas keeps the project manageable for a first-time painter.

The class runs on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm at the studio on Parks Highway. Seats are listed at a sale price of $20, down from $25, and are booked online. All sales are final.

Parent tip: Of the studio's December holiday classes listed here, this is the lowest priced and one of the shortest, which makes it a low-stakes trial for a 5 or 6 year old. Arrive a few minutes early, since seats are released after a 10 minute grace period.

Host
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)
Address
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. Studio, 535 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Holiday crafts

Christmas Stitch Paint Class

Expand to see the parent tip

Fans of Stitch get to paint a Christmas version of the character on an 8x10 canvas in this one-hour class. The studio lists it as family friendly with a suggested age of 5 and up, so parents can book a seat and paint alongside.

It takes place on Saturday, December 19, 2026, from 1:00 to 2:00 pm at the studio at 535 W Parks Highway. Seats are $25 each and are booked online in advance. All sales are final.

Parent tip: This falls on the last Saturday before Christmas, so the finished canvas can be wrapped as a gift from your child for a grandparent. Get there on time, because a seat is forfeited to the waitlist after 10 minutes.

Host
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)
Address
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. Studio, 535 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

Free. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy policy (opens in a new tab)

Holiday crafts

Christmas Art Camp

Expand to see the parent tip

This is a two-hour drop-off camp where each child completes an 8x8 canvas plus two craft projects. The projects move between mediums, with watercolor, oil pastel and paper crafts all on the list. It is open to ages 6 and up.

Camp runs on Sunday, December 20, 2026, from 12:00 to 2:00 pm at the studio on Parks Highway. The listed sale price is $45, down from $55, and all sales are final. The studio says it can bill homeschool programs and Knik Tribe directly.

Parent tip: Pack a water bottle and dress your camper in clothes that can take paint. Be prompt at both drop-off and pickup, because the studio has other events scheduled around the camp that day.

Host
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)
Address
Paint Nights With Sara & Co. Studio, 535 W Parks Hwy, Wasilla, AK 99654 (opens in maps)
Confirmed
On the host’s page, checked
See dates and detailsfrom Paint Nights With Sara & Co. (opens in a new tab)

New Wasilla events every week

Rally researches Christmas events in Wasilla daily and updates this page with new events. Enter your email to get a weekly update with new events in Wasilla.

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 Alaska Christmas train rides page.

See every event on a December calendar

Plan your December

When each Wasilla Christmas event for kids happens

The first is Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some) in Wasilla on November 27; the last runs to December 20. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.

Looking further afield? Our Alaska Christmas events for kids guide lists every event we have found in the state, and we have city guides for Anchorage. 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.

Rally Takes the Train book cover: a watercolor corgi peeking from a red train

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 Amazon (opens in a new tab)

2026 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 Wasilla

Wasilla's biggest Christmas tradition started with six turkeys. In 1992 resident Bob Bowers cooked them on Christmas Day for 67 people at the Wasilla Senior Center, and that meal grew into the Christmas Friendship Dinner, which now feeds thousands at the Menard Center every December 25.

How Wasilla celebrates

Christmas in Wasilla is built around a handful of community gatherings. The city's annual tree lighting is held at Iditapark on Nelson Avenue, with seasonal music and a crowd countdown before the lights come on. The Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center hosts a Community Christmas Celebration at its historic town site on Main Street, an event billed as the 34th annual in 2021. On Christmas Day the Christmas Friendship Dinner, begun in 1992, serves a free holiday meal with music at the Menard Center. Volunteers set up a nativity scene at Wasilla Lake, and the city ends the year with New Year's Eve fireworks at Wonderland Park in Iditapark.

Christmas last year in Wasilla

The 2025 season had a rough start. The tree lighting ceremony planned for Saturday, December 6 at Iditapark, with Mayor Glenda Ledford leading the lighting, was canceled because of a windstorm. Other events went ahead: the Knik Tribe held a holiday craft fair that same Saturday, volunteers set up the nativity scene at Wasilla Lake, and a Santa Day on December 20 offered crafts, letters to Santa, photos and a free screening of The Polar Express. On Christmas Day the Friendship Dinner ran from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Menard Center, with gift bags for children and teens and meals delivered to hundreds of homebound residents.

Fun facts about Christmas in Wasilla

The first Christmas Friendship Dinner in 1992 fed 67 people, and by 2019 a report counted about 5,000 meals served in one afternoon by more than 500 volunteers. The City of Wasilla describes itself as the oldest Tree City USA in Alaska. The nativity scene at Wasilla Lake sits inside a weather-protected trailer customized by Earl Lackey. When the tree lighting was listed for December 2024, Iditapark was described as its new venue.

Traditions today

  • Christmas Friendship Dinner: A free Christmas Day meal with live music at the Menard Center that began in 1992 and is run by hundreds of volunteers.
  • Tree lighting at Iditapark: The city's annual lighting ceremony brings a crowd to Iditapark on Nelson Avenue to count down as the tree is switched on.
  • Wasilla Community Christmas Celebration: The Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center hosts this gathering at its historic town site on Main Street, and it reached its 34th year in 2021.
  • Nativity at Wasilla Lake: Volunteers set up a nativity scene by the lake each December inside a trailer built to protect it from the weather.
  • New Year's Eve fireworks: The city closes the holiday season with a fireworks display around 8 p.m. on December 31 at Wonderland Park in Iditapark.

A fact for kids

The very first Christmas Friendship Dinner in Wasilla needed just six turkeys to feed 67 people. Now the same dinner serves thousands of meals, and kids who come get to take home a gift bag.

Questions about Christmas in Wasilla

When did the Christmas Friendship Dinner in Wasilla start?

It began in 1992, when Wasilla resident Bob Bowers cooked six turkeys on Christmas Day for 67 people at the Wasilla Senior Center. The dinner later moved to the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center as it grew, and the 2019 edition was counted as the 27th annual.

Where and when is the Christmas Friendship Dinner held?

The dinner is served on Christmas Day from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Menard Center, 1001 S. Clapp Street in Wasilla. In 2025 it took place on Thursday, December 25, followed by a volunteer cleanup day at the center on December 26.

Is the Christmas Friendship Dinner free?

Yes. The city describes it as a free traditional holiday dinner with music and entertainment, open to the public and hosted with local nonprofits and businesses. A 2019 report noted that organizers did not accept donations at the door.

What do kids get at the Christmas Friendship Dinner?

In 2025, children and teens who attended received gift bags. An account of the 2019 dinner described hundreds of children visiting Santa and Mrs. Claus for photos and receiving gifts, alongside free food and live music for the whole family.

How many people does the Christmas Friendship Dinner serve?

The numbers vary by year. The City of Wasilla says more than 3,500 free meals are served by hundreds of volunteers. A 2025 preview said past years reached as many as 4,000 diners, and a 2019 report counted about 5,000 meals plus hundreds delivered to homebound residents.

Where is the Wasilla Christmas tree lighting held?

The annual tree lighting takes place at Iditapark, 594 W. Nelson Avenue, in downtown Wasilla. The December 2024 listing called the park the event's new venue and described a free public gathering where the crowd counts down together to light a tall decorated evergreen.

What happened to the Wasilla tree lighting in 2025?

The ceremony was scheduled for Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 5 p.m. at Iditapark, with seasonal music and Mayor Glenda Ledford leading the lighting. It was canceled because of a windstorm, and the local report covering the cancellation did not list a new date.

Does the Wasilla Museum hold a Christmas event?

Yes. The Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center has hosted the Wasilla Community Christmas Celebration at its historic town site at 391 N. Main Street. The celebration held on December 4, 2021, was billed as the 34th annual, which makes it one of the town's longest-running holiday gatherings.

Is there a nativity scene in Wasilla?

Yes. Volunteers set up a nativity scene at Wasilla Lake in early December. In 2025 it was displayed inside a weather-protected trailer customized by Earl Lackey so the figures stay sheltered through the Mat-Su winter. The same display has a counterpart in front of the Depot in nearby Palmer.

Does Wasilla have fireworks during the holidays?

The city holds New Year's Eve fireworks on December 31 at around 8 p.m. at Wonderland Park in Iditapark. The city suggests bringing a folding chair and dressing warmly, and it asks visitors to leave pets at home and stay off the park's delicate trees.

Sources

  1. Annual Events, City of Wasilla
  2. Annual Tree Lighting, Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
  3. What to do this weekend in Mat-Su (Dec. 4-7): Winterfest, fancy trees, and a veteran fair, Mat-Su Sentinel
  4. What to do in Mat-Su (Dec. 25-28): Friendship dinner, lights and ice skating, Mat-Su Sentinel
  5. Page 2 Dec. 18: Have a holly jolly weekend, Big Cabbage Radio (KVRF)
  6. Christmas Friendship Dinner report, December 23, 2019, Alaska Watchman
  7. Wasilla Community Christmas Celebration, Connect Mat-Su

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 Alaska city.

Wasilla Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask

What are the best Christmas events for kids in Wasilla to start with?

For younger children, start with the Little Monkeys Christmas Shop at Spunky Monkey Alaska on Saturday, December 12, 2026, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm, or the one-hour Winter Squishmallow Paint Class at 1:00 pm the same day. Families with older kids can add Every Christmas Story Ever Told at Valley Performing Arts, which runs November 27 through December 20.

Are there free Christmas events for kids in Wasilla?

Yes. The Little Monkeys Christmas Shop on December 12 is free to attend with an RSVP, and the gifts in its kids-only sale are priced at $10 or less. Spunky Monkey Alaska also lists free pictures with Santa on Sunday, December 13, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm, with a hot cocoa bar and warm cookies.

Where can kids meet Santa in Wasilla?

Spunky Monkey Alaska at 449 W Parks Hwy is hosting free pictures with Santa on Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 pm. Families are told to bring their own camera, and the shop is setting out a hot cocoa bar and warm cookies during the visit.

Is there a Christmas show for families in Wasilla?

Valley Performing Arts is staging Every Christmas Story Ever Told (And Then Some), a three-actor comedy that runs about 90 minutes. There are twelve performances from November 27 to December 20, 2026, on Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets are $25 for adults and $22 for children.

Which Wasilla Christmas events need tickets or sign-up?

Nearly all of them. The Valley Performing Arts show is ticketed by performance, and every Paint Nights With Sara class is booked online in advance with final-sale seats. The Little Monkeys Christmas Shop on December 12 is free, but parents are asked to RSVP with the number of kids because spots are limited.

What ages are the holiday paint classes in Wasilla for?

The Paint Nights With Sara studio sets ages class by class. The Winter Squishmallow class on December 12, Tree Rex on December 13 and Christmas Stitch on December 19 are for ages 5 and up. Christmas Art Camp on December 20 is for ages 6 and up, and the Snowman Ornament Paint Night on December 11 is 12 and up.

Are there Christmas train rides for kids near Wasilla?

Santa trains and holiday train rides have their own guide: Rally Takes the Train’s Alaska Christmas train rides guide. This Wasilla 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.

Kelsey Cecil
Previous

Christmas Events for Kids in Waunakee (2026)
Next

Christmas Events for Kids in Washington, PA (2026)