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HOLIDAY EVENT / A NORDIC CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
Dec. 12: Costumed tour guides and musicians bring Christmas alive at the American Swedish Institute. Visitors can tour the old Turnblad mansion and see rooms decorated for holiday meals and celebrations from the five Nordic countries — Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; $6, $5 ages 62-older, $4 ages 6-18; American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave., Mpls; 612-871-4907 or americanswedishinst.org.
HOLIDAY EVENT / AMERICAN GIRL CHRISTMAS TEA
Dec. 12: Families can bring their American Girl dolls — or any dolls they want — to the Avalon Tearoom & Pastry Shoppe for a holiday-themed tea. The three-course tea includes tea sandwiches, scones, dessert and tea or juice. Visitors take home a special favor from the tearoom. 11 a.m.; Avalon Tearoom & Pastry Shoppe, 2179 Fourth St., White Bear Lake; $17.95; 651-653-3822 or avalontearoom.com
HOLIDAY EVENT / VICTORIAN SANTA CLAUS
Dec. 12: A Victorian-era Santa reads the 1823 poem "Twas the Night Before Christmas" at the top of each hour at the Alexander Ramsey House, and children can make ornaments and tell him what they want for Christmas. Parents are encouraged to bring a camera to take photos.
HOLIDAY MUSIC / TRASHY LITTLE XMAS FAMILY MATINEE
Dec. 13: Six-man-band Trailer Trash draws crowds hungry for the sound of American roots music — from blues and country to swing and rock. Their holiday show is suitable for all ages. Noon; Cedar Cultural Center, 416 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls; tickets $11 adult, $6 ages 2-12; 612-338-2674 or thecedar.org.
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. Check Web site for 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. 5:30-10 p.m. daily; Phalen Park, 1615 E. Phalen Drive, St. Paul; $10/vehicle Friday, Saturday and holidays, $8/vehicle Sunday through Thursday; lightsinthepark.org.
NATURE / MAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Through 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.-4:30 p.m.; 3675 Arboretum Drive, Chaska; $9, free ages 15-younger; 952-443-1400 or www.arboretum.umn.edu.
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.-8 p.m. Tuesday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, 10 a.m.-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-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.-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.
