Holiday events slated in Pine River, Little Falls

Tourism events around Minnesota, as provided by the Minnesota Office of Tourism. For more information, visit http://www.exploreminnesota.com or call (800) 657-3700 or (651) 296-5029 in the Twin Cities area.

Walk The Wild Lights will be offered at The Minnesota Zoo in APPLE VALLEY each Friday through Sunday through Dec. 30. After being greeted by reindeer, guests may walk through a winter wonderland of more than one million lights that cover animal shapes surrounding the zoo's main lake. Visitors can also warm up indoors at Discovery Bay, check out the "Zoolab" and the "World of Birds" show. There will be holiday music, photos with Santa, animal enrichment activities for kids and shopping at The Go Wild Gift Shop or Kid's Only Gift Shop. For further information, dial (800) 366-7811.

AUSTIN will present Christmas In The City, with holiday events occurring daily through Dec. 26. Highlights include Santa's reindeer, storytelling, pictures with Santa, open houses with participating businesses, holiday concerts, handbells, carolers and more. For further information, dial (800) 444-5713, or check-out the Web site at (www.spamtownusa.com).

A Camp Santa Holiday Music Festival will take place at Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America in BLOOMINGTON daily through Dec. 24. To learn more, dial (952) 883-8300 or check out (www.bloomingtonmn.org).

The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in CHANHASSEN will be the site of Arbor Lights from 5 to 8 p.m. each Thursday through Saturday through Jan. 12. Enjoy the serenity of the arboretum's lighted winter gardens through self-guided garden walks. There will be children's nature crafts and entertainment each evening. For further information, dial (952) 443-1400.

The third annual Holiday Progressive High Tea will be offered in DULUTH at five area inns on Sunday. Each of the inns will be decked out for the holidays, with live music, staff dressed in Victorian garb, and self-guided tours. A different course will be served at each stop along the way, and is included in the event admission price. Tours run from 12:30-3 p.m. and 3:30-6 p.m. For further information, dial (218) 724-6405.

The Great Lakes Aquarium at Lake Superior Center in DULUTH will be the site of Reindeer Games on Sunday, Dec. 16, with reindeer-pulled sleigh rides, as well as educational reindeer games. To learn more, contact the city of Duluth at (800) 438-5884.

GRAND RAPIDS and the Grand Rapids Jaycees will present Christmas Lights And Carols on Friday with a chance to visit Santa Claus at an old-fashioned Christmas celebration. To learn more, dial (218) 326-2694.

LITTLE FALLS will present Christmas In The Mansions daily through Sunday. Experience Christmas Tea and Treasures at the neighboring residences of Charles Weyerhaeuser and Richard Drew Musser, which were built in 1898. View all four floors of these historic homes, uniquely decorated in holiday splendor. Holiday self-guided tour hours are from 1-6 p.m. daily. No reservations required. For more information, dial (800) 794-0809.

The 10th annual Holidazzle Parade will be held today-Sunday, Dec. 12-16, 19-23 and 26 in downtown MINNEAPOLIS along Nicollet Mall between 12th Street and Third Street. Holidazzle is a series of 24 holiday light parades that feature floats, musical groups, celebrity grand marshals, and nearly 250 costumed characters from popular children's stories. Parades are free to the public, last approximately 30 minutes, and begin at 6:30 p.m. For more information, dial (612) 673-0927.

Through Dec. 31, The Marshall Fields Holiday Auditorium Show will be offered at the 8th Floor Auditorium of Marshall Fields Department Store in downtown MINNEAPOLIS, featuring colorful three-dimensional displays and animated vignettes from "'Twas The Night Before Christmas." The display is free and open to the public during regular store hours. To find out more, dial (612) 375-4637.

A German Christmas Bonfire will be offered in NEW ULM from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Saturday with a bonfire, caroling, cookies and hot, spiced German wine in downtown New Ulm's German Park. To find out more, dial (888) 463-9856.

A Winter Walk through downtown NORTHFIELD will be offered from 5-9 p.m. today with an evening of caroling, sleigh rides, storytelling, musicians, luminaries and decorated store fronts. For further information, contact the Northfield Visitors' Bureau at (800) 658-2548.

The city of PINE RIVER will present a Parade Of Lights on Saturday with a Children's Christmas Program from 2-4 p.m. and the parade at 5:30 p.m. In addition, there will be a bonfire and hay rides. To find out more, dial (800) 728-6926.

Pipestone's Historic Calumet Inn will present A Festival Of Trees through Dec. 31 with trees decorated and judged for most beautiful, original and humorous. To find out more, call the city of PIPESTONE at (800) 336-6125.

A Roaring Twenties Holiday Festival will be held along the banks of the Mississippi River in RED WING from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Hosted by the Goodhue County Historical Society, this annual festival features flappers, vintage jazz, a miniature auto race and more. And on Sunday, the Canadian Pacific Railway Holiday Train will arrive at 7 p.m. bringing Santa Claus delivering treats for the kids. In addition, there will be musical entertainment and caroling in front of a train all decked-out in red, white and blue lights. Food shelf donations are encouraged. For further information, dial (800) 498-3444.

The Granite City Kennel Club Dog Show will be held Friday-Sunday at the Civic Center in ST. CLOUD with most breeds competing. To find out more, dial (800) 264-2940.

Weekday Holiday Tours will be offered at the Alexander Ramsey House in ST. PAUL each Tuesday through Friday through Dec. 28, excluding Christmas Day. The house will be filled with the aroma of holiday baking on a wood-burning stove, and this Victorian home will be full of Christmas decorations, as well as Ramsey family heirlooms and fresh poinsettias. Each Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 30, tours will include vignettes of life at the Ramsey House, as well as Victorian-style ornaments and holiday books at the Carriage House gift shop. Tours leave on the hour and reservations are required. For further information, dial 651/296-8760.

Historic Murphy's Landing in SHAKOPEE will be the site of Folkways Of The Holidays each Saturday and Sunday through Dec. 23. Featured will be award-winning recreations of the holiday traditions of various 1800s ethnic and religious communities of the Minnesota River Valley, with traditional music, dance, games and festivities. To find out more, dial (952) 445-6901 or contact the city of Shakopee at (800) 574-2150.

A Santa Lucia Festival will be held at the TWO HARBORS Community Center at 10 a.m. Saturday. Nearby, Knife River will offer A Tour Of Homes and lunch at the Knife River Recreation Hall beginning at 10 a.m. To learn more about either of these events, contact the Two Harbors Visitors' Bureau at (800) 777-7384.

A Winter Solstice Celebration will be held at the Two Harbors Lighthouse from 4:30-8 p.m. Friday, December 21 from 4:30 - 8:00 p.m, with a large bonfire, musical entertainment, and variety of foods. To find out more, please contact the TWO HARBORS Visitors' Bureau at (800) 777-7384.

And, just some of the upcoming concerts & performances in the TWIN CITIES vicinity will include: Mamma Mia at the Historic Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis, through Dec. 22; Suzanne Vega at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, today; the Black Nativity at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, Dec. 11-23; The Steeles Christmas Concert at the Historic State Theatre in Minneapolis, Dec. 14; The Nutcracker at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul, Dec. 14-16; Amy Grant & Vince Gill at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Dec. 16; The Jayhawks at First Avenue in Minneapolis, Dec. 21; Shannon Curfman at the Cabooze in Minneapolis, Dec. 21; Loyce Holton's Nutcracker Fantasy 2001 at the Historic State Theatre, Dec. 21-30; Soul Asylum at the Fine Line Music Cafe in Minneapolis, Dec. 27; The Harlem Globetrotters at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Dec. 29; The Cities' 97 New Year's Eve at the Hyatt Regency in Minneapolis, Dec. 31; KFAN New Year's Eve at the Radisson in St. Paul, Dec. 31; Louie Anderson at the Northrop Auditorium in Minneapolis, Dec. 31; Taj Mahal at the Fitzgerald Theatre in St. Paul, Jan. 14; Sesame Street Live & Everyone Makes Music at the Target Center, Jan. 16-20; Veggietales Live at the Historic State Theatre, Jan. 29-Feb. 3; Vonda Shepard at the Fitzgerald Theatre, Feb. 14.

For further information on any of these performances, contact TICKETMASTER at (612) 989-5151.