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HOLIDAYS / KWANZAA CELEBRATION
Dec. 27: The Minnesota History Center's Kwanzaa event includes Beverly Cottman as "Auntie Beverly" telling stories about folk heroes and tricksters, as well as drumming, singing and dance performances by Tiyumba Dance Company and Kenna Sarge and Voice of Culture. Families also can view an African fashion show and make West African-inspired door panels out of cardboard and raffia. Noon-4 p.m.; Minnesota History Center, 345 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul; $10-$5 (under 5 free); 651-259-3000 or mnhs.org.
HOLIDAYS / JULGLADJE — SWEDISH CHRISTMAS
Dec. 26-27: For those who celebrate 12 days of Christmas, the festivities have just begun. The American Swedish Institute has invited folk singer and storyteller Ross Sutter to bring in his guitar, dulcimer and accordion to lead a sing-along and teach a simple Swedish folk dance. It's also a great time to tour the institute's exhibits and decorated rooms. 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 26, 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 27; American Swedish Institute, 2600 Park Ave., Mpls.; $6-$4; 612-871-4907 or americanswedishinst.org.
NATURE / NEW YEAR'S EVE CANDLELIGHT WALK
Dec. 31: This annual event at Fort Snelling State Park is full of extra magic this year, as it falls during a
HOLIDAYS / NOON YEAR'S EVE
Dec. 31: For those who can't stay up till midnight, Como Zoo & Conservatory is holding a countdown to noon, complete with a beach ball drop. There also will be special animal programs and entertainment, and kids can also make hats and horns and go on a zoo scavenger hunt. 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; Como Zoo and Conservatory; 1225 Estabrook Drive, St. Paul; free; 651-487-8201 or comozooconservatory.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.
HOLIDAYS / A NORDIC CHRISTMAS
Through December: The American Swedish Institute's annual holiday displays include 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.-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; 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.
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 age 15 and younger; 952-443-1400 or www.arboretum.umn.edu.
EXHIBIT / LEGO MODEL OF STATE CAPITOL
Through Jan. 3: University of Minnesota philosophy professor Roy Cook spent 150 hours constructing a scaled-down version of the Minnesota State Capitol entirely out of LEGO bricks. Take a tour of the real government building and then check out its 6-foot-long replica on display at the Capitol over winter break. (Cook also built a model of the Cathedral of St. Paul on display in the real Cathedral). 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 1-4 p.m. Sunday; Minnesota State Capitol, 75 Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul; free; 651- 296-2881 or mnhs.org.
EXHIBIT / DINOSAURS: LAND OF FIRE AND ICE
Through May 2010: Staff at the Minnesota Children's Museum used up-to-date research to design an interactive exhibit where kids can explore two distinct climates — the land of fire and the land of ice. Kids can walk through a bog, meet the animatronic T-Rex, climb icy steps and pretend to be a paleontologist by uncovering fossils with brushes. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Minnesota Children's Museum, 10 W. Seventh St., St. Paul; $7.95; 651-225-6000 or mcm.org.
HISTORY EXHIBIT / MINNESOTA'S GREATEST GENERATION
Ongoing: The Minnesota History Center exhibit 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 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.
