Hosting for the Holidays?
Help give your family the best holiday experience! Whether you’re runnning out of space, or everyone just wants their own space– a stay at one of our clean, comfortable and affordable hotels in Owatonna will ensure everyone is still getting along when the holidays are over! Find a place to stay here!
If you are looking for a gathering space for your Holiday Celebrations, we have just the place for you! Check out places to host gatherings here!
toys for tots
Toys for Tots of Steele County has been serving the local community for more than three decades, and it operates within the national U.S. Marine Corp Reserve Toys for Tots program, which began in 1947, according to Toys for Tots of Steele County. The organization’s mission is to collect and distribute new, unwrapped toys to needy Steele County children at Christmas, and while toy donations are of course appreciated, cash and gift cards are also useful, as they are used to purchase more toys for children.
Hometown Holidays
Owatonna, with all its charm, has done its best once again to let tradition reign. Which means all the stops have been pulled to make certain there is no other place to be than our Hometown for the Holidays.
Santa’s wonderland
Watch for 2024 Updates Here for Santa’s Wonderland at Cabela’s in Owatonna, MN this Christmas season!!
Cocoa with Santa – Make & Take Ornament
November 23
Owatonna Arts Center
435 Garden View Lane
Everyone who is young at heart wants to tell Santa their wishes at Christmas. Don’t forget your camera!
Salvation Army Red kettle
Find locations to volunteer or donate here.
Volunteer bell ringers are more than an icon of the Christmas Season; they’re the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises the funds that sustain the help The Salvation Army provides all year long. When you volunteer to stand at a kettle, you’re not just ringing a bell…you’re changing lives.
Funds raised at your Kettle are put to work in our own county! For additional volunteer opportunities in Steele County, please reach out to Victoria at 507-649-2703
Holiday LIght Cruise
November 23-December 31
Sponsored by Steele County Historical Society
Join the Holiday Lights Cruise beginning at 5pm on Thanksgiving Day. Maps highlighting the light display locations can be purchased at the Steele County HIstorical Society at 1700 Austin Road, for a $10 donation. Homeowners that a part of the Holiday Lights Cruise will display their lights through December.
Shop Owatonna for the holidays
November 29-December 15- Shop Small Saturday is November 30
We all know how important it is to support local and the holidays are no different! Keep it local – Shop Owatonna for the Holidays!
Small business Saturday
November 30
After the turkey and mashed potatoes have settled, Black Friday has arrived with all of its crazy deals- local Owatonna businesses are no exception. The extra special day in this month is Small Business Saturday, November 30th. Saturday is your day to show small businesses all the love. When you choose to shop somewhere “small”, it means a very large amount to each owner and worker. It doesn’t get much more hometown than that.
Cookie Sale
December 4 & 5
Steele County History Center
1700 Austin Road
The bakers are ready, the ovens are heating up, and the ingredients are prepped. That’s right, the Steele County Historical Society’s Annual Cookie Sale is almost here!
Stop by to pick up your cookies for that special person in your life, or pick up a dozen or two just for yourself. We won’t tell!
Questions? Call 507-451-1420
Frosting the holidays
December 6, 3pm-5pm
The Kitchen Restaurant
329 N. Cedar Ave
Enjoy frosting a Christmas cookie at The Kitchen’s Cookie Frosting party! This is open to the public and is held right before the Lighted Parade. Cookies and supplies are provided.
Annual Chili Supper
December 6, 4:30-6:00 pm
Redemption Church
123 E Main Street
Redemption Church will continue the annual tradition of the Chili Feed that was started by First Baptist Church at the same location of 123 E Main Street. Once the purchase of the church was completed, the recipe was handed over to Redemption Church to use year after year, the same night as the lighted parade.
Lighted Holiday Parade & LIghting of the Lights
December 6, 6pm (FRIDAY NIGHT)
The parade is held on Cedar Avenue and moves towards Central Park for the Lighting of the Lights
This unique parade is the official launch to Hometown Holiday Weekend! From firetrucks to bicycles, there are always surprises at this family tradition-worthy parade. The excitement continues after the parade as the switch to light up the trees in the park is flipped, the Owatonna High School Carolers perform and cider is passed out freely to all who come. Nothing says “Welcome” to the holiday season quite like this beloved town tradition.
OHS Carolers Schedule
The OHS Carolers have spreading cheer in Owatonna for over 80 years! They are performing at the following public locations this holiday season. Make sure you stop in and listen to them as they bring their cheerful music to our community.
Watch for the 2024 Schedule!
Christmas In the Village
December 6 & 7
Steele County History Center (1700 Austin Road)
Village of Yesteryear (1448 Austin Road)
The Steele County Historical Society’s Christmas in the Village is an annual event designed to bring out the child in all of us. Luminary walk (Saturday), take home crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides, carolers, live music, craft sales, lefse-making demonstrations and of course Santa Claus! This multi-day event is one of our most beloved annual traditions.
Rice Lake Trading POst- Vintage HOliday Gift Market
Saturday, December 7th ~ 8am-3pm
Sunday, December 8th ~ 8am-12pm
8867 Dane Road, Owatonna, MN 55060
December 7, 8am-Noon (doors open at 7am)
St. John Lutheran Church
1301 Lincoln Ave
trinity women’s bake sale
December 7, 9am-11am
Trinity Lutheran Church
609 Lincoln Ave
Watch for Details!
Owatonna High School Auditorium, 1455 SE 18th Street
Enjoy an evening of music to raise funds and give HOPE to those in need. Free will donation and funds go to Transitional Housing of Steele County!
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OWATONNA MAPS
Check out our maps for places to dine and shop. View maps »
Have an event to add?
Hosting an event that is open to the public? Email oacct@owatonna.org, or call 507-451-7970 with the details to add it to our Calendar of Events.
