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NATURE / MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Nov. 27-Jan. 3: The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum moves nature indoors for its annual display of holiday trees decorated with ornaments made from grasses, flowers and other natural materials. Also see gingerbread houses and outdoor winter garden vignettes that can be viewed through the windows from the visitor center. Local bell choirs and choruses perform every weekend through Christmas from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Free admission every Thursday with children's story times at 10:30 a.m. Open daily 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving); 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska; $9, free age 15 and younger; 952-443-1400 or www.arboretum.umn.edu.
DANCE / STILLWATER NUTCRACKER
Nov. 27-29: The Stillwater Nutcracker has become a local classic, blending professional dancers in the main roles with more than 100 students from the St. Croix Ballet school. It's also one of the few versions of Tchaikovsky's traditional Nutcracker that includes a narration, so young audiences can follow Clara's adventures as well as be dazzled by the pas de deux. 2 and 7 p.m. Nov. 27, 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 28, 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Nov. 29; Stillwater Area High School Auditorium, 5701 Stillwater Blvd, Oak Park Heights; $15; 651-439-2820 or www.stcroixballet.com.
THEATER / 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS
Through Dec. 28: Playwright Jennifer Kirkeby and composer Shirley Mier have turned Clement C. Moore's 13-stanza poem into a full-blown musical at Stages Theatre. Bring a toy for Toys for Tots and be eligible to win a gift basket. 7 p.m. Nov. 20, check Web site for other times; Stages Theatre, 1111 Mainstreet, Hopkins; $15 adults, $12 children and seniors. 952-979-1111 or stagestheatre.org.
HOLIDAYS / LIGHTS IN THE PARK
Through Dec. 31: Drive through a half-mile display of more than fifty sculptures and moving characters in the second annual Holiday Lights in the Park at Phalen Park. All proceeds go to charities, including Second Harvest Heartland and Union Gospel Mission. 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily; Phalen Park, 1615 E. Phalen Drive, St. Paul; $10/vehicle Friday, Saturday and holidays, $8/vehicle Sunday through Thursday; lightsinthepark.org.
HOLIDAYS / A NORDIC CHRISTMAS
Through December: The American Swedish Institute opens its annual holiday displays, with five rooms in the historic Turnblad mansion decorated with trees and table settings from the five Nordic countries. New this year is a playhouse stuga for kids, with a tree for decorating and Sankta Lucia and star boy costumes. On Saturday only, there will be family crafts, tomte story time, Christmas bingo, live music and Swedish baked goods. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave., Minneapolis; $4 to $6, free for kids younger than 6; 612-871-4907 or www.americanswedishinst.org.
TOUR / A VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS AT THE RAMSEY HOUSE
Through Jan. 3: This holiday-themed tour includes a 12-foot tree adorned with blown-glass ornaments and the Ramsey family's dining room table set for an 1875 Christmas dinner. Music from the vintage Steinway piano completes the ambiance. Tours start every 30 minutes. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays, noon-3 p.m. Sundays (horse-drawn carriage rides on select Saturdays starting Nov. 28); Alexander Ramsey House, 265 S. Exchange St., St. Paul; $9 adults, $7 seniors and college students, $6 children; 651-296-8760 or www.mnhs.org.
HISTORY EXHIBIT / MINNESOTA'S GREATEST GENERATION
Ongoing: The latest exhibit at the Minnesota History Center, "Minnesota's Greatest Generation," uses recorded interviews, photographs, film footage and hundreds of artifacts to document the experiences of an entire generation, from childhood in the 1920s through World War II and into the present. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday; Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $10 adults, $8 seniors and college students, $5 children ages 6-17, free for children age 5 and younger. 651-259-3000 or www.mnhs.org.
FILM / FREE FAMILY FLICKS
Ongoing: The Theatres at Mall of America shows free family flicks every Saturday at 10 a.m. Arrive early to get a seat. See theatresmoa.com to find out what's showing.
NATURE / BIRDING
Ongoing: See songbirds up close and watch experts band birds as part of an ongoing effort to help scientists learn more about bird migrations and habits. All ages welcome. Carpenter Nature Center has been capturing, banding and releasing birds for 26 years. 9 a.m. to noon every fourth Friday of the month (except December, when program is on Dec. 18), Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center, 12805 St. Croix Trail, Hastings; free; please call ahead to let them know you're coming; 651-437-4359 or CarpenterNatureCenter.org.
