Christmas & holiday events for families in Fargo-Moorhead 2026

Santa is booked solid, the parade has a route, and somebody has to make 1,000 s'mores. Every date below is from the organizer's own page. If they haven't posted 2026 dates yet, it's in the "not announced" list and we won't pretend otherwise.

17 confirmed events · last checked Nov 1, 2026 · page rebuilt Nov 1, 2026, 7:52 p.m. CT

On the calendar

Cookies with the Claus Family

FreeAges All agesFARGODOME, Fargo

Fri, Nov 27, 1–4 p.m.

Santa arrives by horse-drawn sleigh at 1. Cookie decorating, sleigh rides, face painting, a bouncy house and Santa photos. Hosted by Fraser, Ltd.

Source: FARGODOME / Fraser, Ltd. · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Festival of Trees

See siteAges All agesFARGODOME, Fargo

Through Fri, Dec 4 · Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m.

Decorated trees from local businesses and families, plus Santa's Mailbox for letters. Extended viewing during events.

Source: FARGODOME / Fraser, Ltd. · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Santa Village at Rheault Farm

FreeAges All agesRheault Farm, Fargo

Weekends Nov 28–Dec 20 plus Dec 17, 18, 21, 22 · sensory-friendly night Fri, Dec 11, 4–6 p.m.

Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer, cookie decorating, model trains and light displays. Carriage rides $2.50 (3 and under free) on weekend afternoons. The Santa line closes early, so don't cut it close. Bring a canned good or toy.

Source: Fargo Parks · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Concordia Christmas Concert (the 100th)

$$Memorial Auditorium, Concordia College, Moorhead

Fri, Dec 4, 7:30 p.m. · Sat, Dec 5, 2 & 7:30 p.m. · Sun, Dec 6, 2 p.m.

More than 400 student musicians in front of a brand-new mural. It's the 100th one, so tickets will go.

Source: Concordia College · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Christmas on the Prairie

$Ages All ages (under 5 free)Bonanzaville, West Fargo

Sat, Dec 5, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Carolers, horse-drawn wagons, Christmas cards printed in the print shop, cookies from a wood-burning oven, homemade-present crafts. Adults $6, kids 6–18 $3, families $15.

Source: Bonanzaville · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Holiday Tree Lighting at Broadway Square

FreeAges All agesBroadway Square, Fargo

Sat, Dec 5, 5–8 p.m. · lighting at 6

Santa and Mrs. Claus count down the tree, plus hot chocolate, s'mores stations and crafts. Weather permitting, the rink is open with free skate rentals. Then the parade rolls in.

Source: Fargo Parks · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Moorhead Library Holiday Open House & parade watch party

FreeAges All agesMoorhead Public Library, Moorhead

Sat, Dec 5, 4–8 p.m.

Open house, mini book sale and a warm place to watch the Holiday Lights Parade, from the Friends of the Moorhead Library.

Source: Lake Agassiz Regional Library · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Xcel Energy Holiday Lights Parade

Free to watchAges All agesDowntown Fargo (Broadway), Fargo

Sat, Dec 5, 6:30 p.m.

Lit-up floats, marching units and equestrian entries. Thousands of people show up, so pick your curb early.

Source: Downtown Community Partnership · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Santa's Elf Workshop

$$Ages 4–10Rheault Farm, Fargo

Tue, Dec 8, 6–7:30 p.m. (a Dec 9 session is also listed; check the time) · register by Dec 3

Kids make and wrap a gift for a grown-up, who is not allowed to see it. $21.

Source: Fargo Parks · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Libraries Dance: Nutcracker Preview

FreeAges 3 and upFargo Main Library, Fargo

Wed, Dec 9, 6:30 p.m.

Storytime plus a short dance lesson with FMBallet and Gasper's School of Dance. Wear something you can move in.

Source: Fargo Public Library · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Jólabókaflód (Christmas Book Flood) Party

FreeAges All agesFargo Main Library, Fargo

Sat, Dec 12, 2 p.m.

The Icelandic tradition of giving books: bring one to swap, plus crafts, snacks and Scandinavian music.

Source: Fargo Public Library · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Skate with Santa (West Fargo)

FreeAges All agesEssentia Health Plaza at The Lights, West Fargo

Tue, Dec 15, 4–6 p.m.

Skate to Christmas songs with Santa. Free cookies and hot chocolate while they last; skates available to rent.

Source: City of West Fargo / West Fargo Parks · last checked Nov 1, 2026
White Christmas (1954) on the big screen

$Fargo Theatre, Fargo

Thu, Dec 17, 7:30 p.m.

Classic Film Series, $5. Tickets usually go on sale about two weeks before.

Source: Fargo Theatre · last checked Nov 1, 2026
FMBallet: The Classic Nutcracker

$$Ages All agesNDSU Festival Concert Hall, Fargo

Fri–Sun, Dec 18–20

The 15th-anniversary production, with a live orchestra and pre-show lobby fun (possibly including Santa). Showtimes are on FMBallet's site.

Source: FMBallet · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Let's Get Santa to the Moon! planetarium day camp

$$Ages 5–11MSUM Planetarium, Moorhead

Sat, Dec 19, 8:30 a.m.

A holiday-themed planetarium camp. Ticketed through the Moorhead Box Office.

Source: MSUM Box Office · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Winter Break Crafternoon for Kids

FreeAges KidsWest Fargo Public Library, West Fargo

Tue, Dec 29, 1:30 p.m.

Free crafts on a no-school day.

Source: West Fargo Public Library · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Elephant & Piggie's Noon Year's Party

FreeAges KidsFargo Main Library, Fargo

Thu, Dec 31, 11 a.m.

Ring in the new year at noon and keep bedtime where it belongs.

Source: Fargo Public Library · last checked Nov 1, 2026

Not announced yet

These ran in past years and the organizers' sites still list them, but there are no 2026 dates yet. Check back in early December.

Holiday Lights at the Fairgrounds (drive-through)

2026 dates not postedWest Fargo

The 1.5-mile drive-through display that used to be in Lindenwood Park. Its FAQ lists Nov. 28–Dec. 31, 5–10 p.m. nightly and $25 a car, but the main page still says closed for the year. Confirm before you load the car.

Source: Red River Valley Fair · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Santa's Snowfari and Holiday Nights at the Red River Zoo

2026 dates not postedFargo

The zoo has pages for both, but no 2026 dates yet.

Source: Red River Zoo · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Moorhead Holiday Kickoff tree lighting & Skate with Santa

2026 dates not postedMoorhead

Moorhead Parks says to stay tuned for 2026 dates.

Source: Moorhead Parks & Recreation · last checked Nov 1, 2026
Light Up the Night tree lighting (West Fargo)

2026 dates not postedWest Fargo

West Fargo Events' page still shows last year's edition.

Source: West Fargo Events · last checked Nov 1, 2026

Also on the calendars

Holiday-ish listings in the next 30 days from venue and city calendars, refreshed nightly.

Sun22Nov

Fargo Sun, Nov 22 · 3 pm

The Wizards of Winter

Fargo Theatre · Starting at $40

All-agesIndoor
via Fargo Theatre

Questions parents actually ask

When is the Holiday Lights Parade in Fargo in 2026?

Sat, Dec 5, 6:30 p.m., in Downtown Fargo (Broadway). It's presented by the Downtown Community Partnership; Fargo Parks lights the Broadway Square tree the same night.

When is Santa Village 2026, and is it free?

Santa Village at Rheault Farm is free. Weekends Nov 28–Dec 20 plus Dec 17, 18, 21, 22 · sensory-friendly night Fri, Dec 11, 4–6 p.m.. Carriage rides are $2.50 per person on weekend afternoons.

When is the Concordia Christmas Concert 2026?

Fri, Dec 4, 7:30 p.m. · Sat, Dec 5, 2 & 7:30 p.m. · Sun, Dec 6, 2 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium, Concordia College in Moorhead. It's the 100th edition.

When is the Nutcracker in Fargo in 2026?

FMBallet's The Classic Nutcracker runs Dec 18–20 at NDSU Festival Concert Hall.

Where can we see Christmas lights in Fargo-Moorhead?

Santa Village has light displays, the Holiday Lights Parade lights up Broadway, and the drive-through Holiday Lights at the Fairgrounds in West Fargo lists a Nov. 28–Dec. 31 run on its FAQ. Check that one before you go.

Need somewhere warm between Santa visits? See indoor things to do with kids this winter.