Christmas Day 2026 in Minneapolis–St. Paul is Friday, December 25, and the restaurants serving Christmas Day meals include Mara and Nordic Village at the Four Seasons, Tavola, FireLake Grill House and the Lowell Inn.
Mall of America, Target, Walmart, Costco, the libraries and most museums close on Christmas Day, and Minnesota law shuts liquor stores from 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24. St. Olaf holds Midnight Mass and Mount Olivet a service every hour from 1 to 9 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Checked November 5, 2026. Not announced yet: most restaurants' 2026 Christmas menus, Cub's, Lunds & Byerlys' and Kowalski's Christmas hours, Metro Transit's holiday service and the Basilica of St. Mary's and the Cathedral of Saint Paul's Mass times.
Restaurants open on Christmas Day in Minneapolis 2026
Five Twin Cities restaurants have announced dine-in meals for Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, from Mara at the Four Seasons in Minneapolis to the Lowell Inn in Stillwater; Fogo de Chão and Kincaid's list Christmas Day dining on pages that give no year.
| Restaurant | Where | Christmas Eve (Dec 24) | Christmas Day (Dec 25) | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mara | Four Seasons, downtown Minneapolis | 5–9:30 p.m., four-course dinner | 11:30 a.m.–7 p.m., buffet with a seafood bar and carving stations | $135 on December 24; $155 on December 25, children under 12 $55 |
| Nordic Village | Four Seasons rooftop, Minneapolis | Seatings 5 and 8 p.m., four courses in a private cabin | Seatings noon, 3 and 6 p.m. | $175 on December 24 (children $65); $195 on December 25 (under 12 $75) |
| Fogo de Chão | Hennepin Avenue, downtown Minneapolis | 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m. (page gives no year) | 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m. (page gives no year) | Not published |
| Tavola | Elliot Park Hotel, Minneapolis | Feast of the Seven Fishes; menu to come | FORAGED Christmas celebration; time not published | $75 on December 24 |
| Kincaid's | Bloomington and St. Paul | Three-course dinner; hours not published | Three-course dinner; hours not published | $63 or $68 (page gives no year) |
| FireLake Grill House | Radisson Blu Mall of America, Bloomington | Open 365 days; dinner 5–10 p.m. | Open 365 days; dinner 5–10 p.m. | Regular menu |
| Lowell Inn | Stillwater | Dinner buffet, seatings 4 and 6:15 p.m. | Brunch buffet, seatings 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m. | $40.50 plus tax; ages 4–12 $23 |
Prices are as each restaurant lists them on November 5, 2026, before tax and gratuity. Book ahead: the Four Seasons takes bookings for Mara and Nordic Village on OpenTable, and the Lowell Inn requires a reservation at 651-439-1100.
Buca di Beppo, which has restaurants in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Maple Grove and Eden Prairie, says most of its restaurants are open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; it lists no hours per location.
Two restaurants open on Christmas Eve only: Jax Cafe in Northeast Minneapolis serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Rodizio Grill in Maple Grove lists noon to 8 p.m. (its page gives no year); both close on Christmas Day.
Christmas dinner restaurants that have not announced 2026 yet
Three restaurants that served Christmas dinner in 2025 had not published their 2026 plans on November 5:
- Nicollet Island Inn, Minneapolis: a four-course Christmas Day dinner from 11 a.m. for $75 before tax and gratuity in 2025.
- The St. Paul Grill, at the Saint Paul Hotel: a Christmas feature menu, 3–8 p.m. on December 24 and 2–8 p.m. on December 25 in 2025.
- Breva, Hotel Ivy, Minneapolis: a Christmas surf and turf in 2025.
What's open and closed on Christmas Day in Minnesota?
On Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, restaurants such as Mara at the Four Seasons and FireLake Grill House, the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and Mystic Lake Casino stay open, while Mall of America, Southdale, Target, Walmart, Costco, Hy-Vee, Whole Foods, the public libraries and most museums close.
Open on Christmas Day
- Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, St. Paul: open 10 a.m.–4 p.m. every day with no Christmas closure listed; its December calendar has the polar bear program at 10:30 a.m. on December 24, 25 and 26.
- Minneapolis Sculpture Garden: free and open daily from 6 a.m. to midnight, according to the Walker.
- Mystic Lake Casino, Prior Lake: lists its hours as "Always Open".
- Christmas lights: several light displays run on Christmas night; Christmas lights in Minnesota 2026 gives each one's dates.
- Christmas Day events: the Timberwolves' home game, a concert at the Dakota and films at the Heights Theater and the Trylon (see below).
CVS, Walgreens, gas stations and movie theater chains had not posted 2026 Christmas Day hours on November 5.
Closed on Christmas Day
| Place | Christmas Eve (Dec 24) | Christmas Day (Dec 25) | Saturday, Dec 26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe | 10 a.m.–6 p.m. | Closed | 10 a.m.–10 p.m. |
| Southdale Center | 9 a.m.–5 p.m. | Closed | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Target | Closes by 8 p.m. | Closed | Open |
| Walmart | Closing time not published | Closed | Open |
| Costco | Closing time not published | Closed | Open |
| Hy-Vee | Most Twin Cities stores 6 a.m.–5 p.m. (page gives no year) | Closed | Open |
| Whole Foods | Shorter hours | Closed | Open |
| Minneapolis Institute of Art and Walker Art Center | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Science Museum of Minnesota | Not listed as closed | Closed | Open |
| Minnesota History Center | 10 a.m.–2 p.m. | Closed | Open |
| Mill City Museum | Closed | Closed | 10 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| American Swedish Institute and Bell Museum | Closed | Closed | Open |
| Northern Lights at the Arboretum | Closed | Closed | 4:30–9:30 p.m. |
| Gingerbread Wonderland, Norway House | Closed | Closed | 10 a.m.–8 p.m. |
| Hennepin County Library and Saint Paul Public Library | Closed | Closed | Open |
"Open" and "Not listed as closed" mean the place lists no closure that day; check its regular hours for that day. Cub, Lunds & Byerlys and Kowalski's had not posted their Christmas hours on November 5, 2026.
Parking, garbage and transit on Christmas Day
Minneapolis parking meters are free on Christmas Day, December 25, but not on Christmas Eve, according to the City of Minneapolis; private meters may still charge.
City of Minneapolis offices are closed on Friday, December 25, 2026 (city holidays), and Minneapolis garbage and recycling pickup due on Christmas Day is delayed one day, while Christmas Eve pickup is not affected (holiday collection).
Metro Transit had not published its 2026 Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service on November 5; check Metro Transit before you travel.
Are liquor stores open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in Minnesota?
Liquor stores in Minnesota close at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, and stay closed all day on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25. Minnesota Statutes 340A.504, subdivision 4, bans off-sale after 8 p.m. on December 24 and on December 25; on other weekdays liquor stores may sell until 10 p.m.
Cities can set shorter hours than the statute, so a municipal liquor store may close earlier on Christmas Eve. Bars and restaurants with an on-sale license have no Christmas ban in the statute and can serve drinks on both days.
Christmas Eve services in Minneapolis and St. Paul 2026
Ten Twin Cities churches have published their Christmas Eve 2026 services for Thursday, December 24, from Mount Olivet Lutheran's hourly services in Minneapolis to Augustana Lutheran's candlelight worship in West St. Paul:
| Church | Christmas Eve 2026 | Christmas Day 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Olivet Lutheran, 5025 Knox Avenue South, Minneapolis | 10 a.m., then every hour from 1 to 9 p.m., livestreamed | 10 a.m. |
| St. Olaf Catholic Church, 215 South 8th Street, Minneapolis | 4 p.m. (livestreamed) and Midnight Mass at 12 midnight | 6, 8 and 10 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. |
| Central Lutheran, 333 South 12th Street, Minneapolis | 3 and 10:30 p.m. | 10 a.m. |
| Plymouth Congregational, 1919 LaSalle Avenue, Minneapolis | 5 p.m. family service with a living nativity; 9 p.m. candlelight Lessons and Carols | None listed |
| St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, 519 Oak Grove Street, Minneapolis | 4 p.m. Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols; 11 p.m. Festival Eucharist | None listed |
| Westminster Presbyterian, 1200 Marquette Avenue, Minneapolis | 4 p.m. children's Christmas pageant, livestreamed; evening services not posted yet (2025: 8 and 10 p.m.) | None listed |
| Saint Mary's Episcopal Church, 1895 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul | 4 p.m. | None listed |
| Vertical Church St. Paul, 55 Victoria Street North, St. Paul | 4 p.m. | None listed |
| Augustana Lutheran, West St. Paul | 11 a.m. family worship; 2, 4 and 10 p.m. candlelight worship with communion | None listed |
| Eagle Brook Church, 14 campuses and online | Minneapolis campus 1 p.m.; online 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.; suburban campuses from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. | None listed |
Mount Olivet's West Campus in Victoria adds Christmas Eve services at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. Eagle Brook's Christmas Eve services last 60 minutes; the church suggests pre-registering children for its kids' service.
Christmas Eve Mass at the Basilica and the Cathedral of Saint Paul
The Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis had not posted its 2026 Christmas schedule on November 5. In 2025, the Basilica held Christmas Eve Masses at 2, 5 and 8 p.m. and a Solemn Eucharist at midnight after the 11:30 p.m. Vigil of Lights.
On Christmas Day 2025 the Basilica of St. Mary held Masses at 7:30 and 9:30 a.m., noon and 4 p.m. On Christmas Eve after 2 p.m. it offered free parking in the Minneapolis College ramp.
The Cathedral of Saint Paul had posted no Christmas Mass times for 2026 on November 5; its Mass times page says the cathedral keeps special hours on holidays.
Things to do on Christmas Day in Minneapolis 2026
Things to do on Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026, in Minneapolis–St. Paul include an NBA game, the Como Park Zoo, a jazz concert and films:
- Timberwolves vs. Oklahoma City Thunder, Target Center, 7 p.m.: the Timberwolves' first Christmas Day home game, broadcast on ABC, according to Fox 9.
- Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, St. Paul: free entry with a suggested donation, and the Holiday Flower Show runs from December 4, 2026 to January 3, 2027, according to Como.
- The Bad Plus Farewell Tour Finale, Dakota Jazz Club, Minneapolis, 6 p.m., tickets from $35.77; more concerts are in the live music guide.
- Movies: the Heights Theater in Columbia Heights shows Werwulf at 4 p.m., and the Trylon Cinema in Minneapolis screens Bonnie and Clyde in 35mm at 7 p.m. on Christmas Day.
Things to do on Christmas Eve in Minneapolis
Shows on Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026, mostly play in the afternoon: Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Orpheum Theatre at 11 a.m., The Music Man at the Ordway in St. Paul at noon and Black Nativity at Penumbra Theatre in St. Paul at 2 p.m. In the evening, Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo plays Jacob Marley's Christmas Carol at 7:30 p.m. Every holiday show of the season is on the Christmas theater page.
The day after Christmas in the Twin Cities: Saturday, December 26
On Saturday, December 26, 2026, the malls, Northern Lights at the Arboretum and Gingerbread Wonderland reopen, and Mill City Museum is open 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Minnesota Wild vs. Winnipeg, Grand Casino Arena, St. Paul, 6 p.m.
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Children's Theatre Company, Minneapolis, 11 a.m., tickets from $25.
- Kwanzaa at Midtown Global Market, 920 East Lake Street, Minneapolis: from noon on Saturday, December 26 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 31, according to the market.
Will it be a white Christmas in Minneapolis?
A white Christmas, at least one inch of snow on the ground on the morning of December 25, happens about 71% of the time in the Twin Cities, according to the Minnesota DNR's climate records. In the DNR's record through 2024, the last brown Christmas was in 2023. From 1991 to 2020, Christmas Day in the Twin Cities averaged a high of 26°F and a low of 12°F.
Quick answers
What restaurants are open on Christmas Day in Minneapolis? Restaurants that have announced Christmas Day 2026 meals in the Twin Cities include Mara and Nordic Village at the Four Seasons, Tavola, FireLake Grill House at Mall of America and the Lowell Inn in Stillwater; Fogo de Chão (11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.) and Kincaid's list Christmas Day dining without a year, and Buca di Beppo says most of its restaurants are open.
Is Mall of America open on Christmas Day 2026? No. Mall of America and Nickelodeon Universe are closed on Friday, December 25, 2026. On Christmas Eve they are open 10 a.m.–6 p.m., and on December 26 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Are liquor stores open on Christmas Eve in Minnesota? Yes, until 8 p.m. Minnesota law bans liquor store sales after 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve and all day on Christmas Day; bars and restaurants can still serve drinks.
Is Target open on Christmas Eve 2026? Yes. Target stores close by 8 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, 2026, and are closed on Christmas Day.
What time is Midnight Mass in Minneapolis? St. Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis celebrates Midnight Mass at 12 midnight on the night of Thursday, December 24, 2026. The Basilica of St. Mary held a Solemn Eucharist at midnight in 2025; its 2026 times are not posted yet.
Is the Como Zoo open on Christmas Day? Yes. The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory in St. Paul lists no Christmas closure and is open 10 a.m.–4 p.m.; entry is free.
Are the Timberwolves playing on Christmas Day 2026? Yes. The Timberwolves host the Oklahoma City Thunder at Target Center at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 25, 2026.
Before Christmas, the markets, concerts and shows are in Christmas events in Minneapolis–St. Paul 2026 and the light displays in Christmas lights in Minnesota 2026; a week later comes New Year's Eve in Minneapolis–St. Paul 2026.
Cover photo: a Christmas tree with Swedish straw goats in the Turnblad Mansion of the American Swedish Institute, Minneapolis, November 13, 2016, Runner1928, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; illustrative photo.