By Stacy Brooks
Colorful lights displays, visits with Santa, and sledding down a snow-covered hill: enjoy family fun in Inver Grove Heights this holiday season with these local events and activities. Inver Grove Heights is also a convenient, budget-friendly place to stay if you want to check out family-friendly holiday family activities around the Twin Cities.
Photo Credit: Experience the Twin Cities
Holiday Family Activities In Inver Grove Heights
All Is Bright Holiday Lights Tour
December 1-23, 2022
Embrace the season with a private tour of the most festive lights in Inver Grove Heights. An open-air fun bus takes you on a 30-minute tour of brightly decorated residential streets, with tours beginning and ending at Drkula’s 32 Bowl. Tours cost $175 for the entire bus (which can accommodate up to 13 guests) and include a holiday playlist and driver dressed as Santa. Dress warmly and bring your own hot cocoa to sip along the way.
Photo Credit: Inver Grove Heights Parks and Recreation
Holidays in the Heights
December 2-10, 2022
Kick off the holidays with Inver Grove Heights’ annual Holidays in the Heights celebration. A tree lighting ceremony open to all will be held on Friday, December 2, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the VMCC. Afterwards, skate with Santa and enjoy a hot beverage and snack (pre-registration required). Other activities include several Holiday Cookies & Canvas painting classes on Saturday, December 3; a holiday-themed open swim on Friday, December 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.; and breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 10 from 10:00 a.m. to noon.
Photo Credit: Visit IGH
Light Up The Heights Holiday Lights Contest
Mid-December 2022
Inver Grove Heights residents are known for their impressive holiday lights displays, and you can tour all of the entries in the annual Light Up The Heights holiday lights contest. Maps will be available by mid-December to plan your route.
Outdoor activities
Photo Credit: IGH Parks and Recreation
Weather dependent
Inver Grove Heights offers outdoor skating rinks at Skyview, Oakwood, Groveland, South Valley, and Southern Lakes Park, some of which have warming houses. Check online or call 651-450-2595 for rink updates. In addition, South Valley Park has a large sledding hill that’s a perfect activity for snowy days.
Holiday Family Activities Around the Twin Cities
Photo Credit: Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum
Night Trains at Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum
November 5, 2022-February 25, 2023
The lights are turned down and the festive spirit is turned up at St. Paul’s Twin Cities Model Railroad Museum’s special night trains exhibit. The model trains are illuminated, the tiny town of Matlin is buried in a blizzard, and layouts throughout the museum are decorated with miniature Christmas lights and decorations.
Photo Credit: GLOW Holiday Festival
November 23, 2022-January 1, 2023
St. Paul’s CHS Field will be decorated with over a million lights and a 60-foot tree for the GLOW Holiday Festival. Visitors can also watch lights displays synchronized to music, visit Santa, take a tube ride down a 150-foot slide, and make s’mores.
Photo Credit: Holidazzle
November 25-December 18, 2022
Held in Minneapolis’ Loring Park, Holidazzle features family entertainment, visits with Santa, holiday lights, a giant Yeti, and tasty food and drinks from local vendors.
This holiday season, book a stay in Inver Grove Heights! Inver Grove Heights hotels offer excellent value and are conveniently located to downtown St. Paul, the Mall of America, Minneapolis, and the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Amenities include complimentary breakfast, free parking, and more.