Last year the European Christmas Market at Union Depot in St. Paul opened on Black Friday and ran four weekends. This year it opens Friday, November 20, the weekend before Thanksgiving, and runs five. That puts it on the same five weekends as the Minneapolis Christkindl Market at North Loop Green. From November 20 through December 20, the two big European-style markets on either side of the river are open on the same Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Some of the performers even work both sites on the same day.
So the Twin Cities now has one outdoor market season held in two places. It starts eight days after this post goes up. Planning a weekend now means picking a market, or fitting in both.
Union Depot added the weekend before Thanksgiving
The change is all at the front of the calendar. Union Depot's 2025 listing said the market would "return to Union Depot for four festive Holiday weekends," opening "on Friday, November 28" and running "through Sunday, December 21." For 2026, the market's FAQ says it "will be open for 5 weekends": November 20 to 22, November 27 to 29, December 4 to 6, December 11 to 13 and December 18 to 20.
Thanksgiving is November 26 this year, so the new first weekend comes before the holiday. Thanksgiving weekend is now the second weekend of the market, not the first.
The Minneapolis Christkindl Market has run this way since it started. It launched at North Loop Green in 2024. In 2025 it was already running five weekends, November 21 through December 21. Its 2026 dates are November 20 to December 20, on the same five weekends as Union Depot.
Downtown's holiday anchor moved to the markets
The two markets matter more this year because of what changed downtown. Holidazzle started in 1992, when downtown Minneapolis businesses wanted to compete with the newly opened Mall of America for holiday shoppers. For more than two decades it meant light-up floats parading down Nicollet Mall. The parade ended in 2013. After that, Holidazzle became a winter festival, spending a year at Peavey Plaza and then several years in Loring Park.
The Star Tribune reported in October 2025 that the Minneapolis Downtown Council would stop running Holidazzle and Aquatennial, citing budget problems and competing priorities, and hoped other groups would take them over. The same report said the 2024 return to Nicollet Mall aimed for more than 100,000 visitors over five days and drew an estimated 65,000.
Nicollet still has a holiday opener, and it comes first. Meet Minneapolis lists Departments at Dayton's Holiday Market at The Dayton's Project from November 12 to December 24. It describes the market as the third annual Winter Maker's Market, with more than 70 independent vendors. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. It opens the day this post is published. It is open daily and indoors, so it covers the weeknights both outdoor markets skip.
How the two markets compare
The calendars match. The hours don't, and the gap is biggest on Fridays and Sundays.
| European Christmas Market | Minneapolis Christkindl Market | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Union Depot East Plaza, 240 E. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul | North Loop Green, 350 N. 5th St., Minneapolis |
| 2026 weekends | Nov. 20–22, Nov. 27–29, Dec. 4–6, Dec. 11–13, Dec. 18–20 | Same five weekends |
| Friday | 3 to 9 p.m. | 4 to 9 p.m. |
| Saturday | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sunday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. |
| Admission | Free | Free |
| Vendor count | Over 70, per Meet Minneapolis | Over 42, per the market |
On Fridays, St. Paul opens an hour earlier. On Sundays, Minneapolis stays open an hour later. If you want both in one Sunday, go to Union Depot first. Union Depot's FAQ points visitors to parking lots C and D at 392 E. Kellogg Blvd., at an event rate of $10 to $14.
The same performers work both sides of the river
The two entertainment schedules show how closely the markets are linked this year. Here is opening Saturday, November 21, put together from both published schedules:
- 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Rince na Chroi Irish Dance at North Loop Green
- 12 to 1:30 p.m.: Tim Kraft at Union Depot
- 1 to 3 p.m.: Rince Na Chroi Dance at Union Depot
- 3 to 5 p.m.: Greg Volker at North Loop Green
- 3:30 to 5 p.m.: Urban Sound Acapella at Union Depot
- 5 to 7 p.m.: The Enchantments at North Loop Green
- 6 to 7:30 p.m.: Alicia Renee at Union Depot
- 7 to 9 p.m.: Vocal U A Cappella at North Loop Green
Rince na Chroi performs in Minneapolis in the morning and in St. Paul in the early afternoon. Alicia Renée plays Union Depot Saturday evening, then returns to North Loop Green on Sunday at 11 a.m. as Mrs. Claus for "Merry Melodies with Mrs. Claus." Union Depot's opening night on Friday, November 20, has MN Enchantments from 4 to 5:30 p.m. and Bur Oak Brass from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
What each market has that the other doesn't
Because the dates are the same, the programming is how you choose between them.
Union Depot leans toward families and adds a tree lighting. The market's Kid Zone is "New for 2026." It offers free ornament coloring, wooden-toy painting, bookmark stamping, cookie decorating and letters to Santa, plus a tent of kids' activities. The carousel and train are back too. On Saturday, December 5, Union Depot holds its Holiday Tree Lighting and Movie Night. It starts at 5 p.m. with the unveiling of the St. Paul Winter Carnival 2026 button. The Mistletones play from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., the tree is lit on the North Plaza at 7 p.m., and Elf is shown afterward. The tree stays lit through December. That Saturday is also a regular market day, so the market and the lighting share the evening.
North Loop Green has the bigger opening night. On Friday, November 20, R&M: Christmas plays from 5 to 7 p.m. At 6 p.m. there is a lantern parade for children, with lanterns sold on site, and the Christkindl arrives to open the market. Minnesota Krampus follows from 7 to 9 p.m. The market also lists Santa visits every Sunday and Christmas karaoke. Its vendor directory has 2026 profiles for Alpine Dumpling Haus and Chestnut Experience in food, and for Gudrun Sölden, Scandinavian North, Choco Idea, Firma Olive Oil and La Boutique by Alliance Française in shopping. The market says its menu includes German Glühwein, spätzle, Swiss raclette and Spanish honeys.
Thanksgiving weekend is now the middle of the season
With Union Depot opening November 20, both markets are already in their second weekend by Thanksgiving. Friday, November 27, through Sunday, November 29, is a regular weekend at both. That leaves the Saturday after Thanksgiving free for other events. Meet Minneapolis lists the West 50th Street tree lighting for that Saturday, November 28, at 5 p.m., with a 20-foot tree, The Mistletones and Santa.
Dayton's opens on Nicollet on November 12. Both outdoor markets open November 20. Union Depot lights its tree December 5. Both markets close December 20. Dayton's stays open until Christmas Eve. If guests are coming for Thanksgiving, they can go to a market that weekend without anyone having to drive into St. Paul or the North Loop the weekend before.
If you're hosting this season and want suggestions on where to take visitors, or you're getting a home ready for the spring market while the lights are up, Polovitz Group is happy to help. Start your lake-home search or market your property with our team.
