Hey listeners, welcome to your ultimate guide for what's popping in Minneapolis-Saint Paul this weekend and through the new year. Today, Saturday December 27, the city's buzzing with hockey fever as the Bold North Breakaway Fan Festival kicks off in downtown Saint Paul at Rice Park and the Saint Paul RiverCentre. According to the Minnesota Sports and Events site, it's the official free fan fest for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, running from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. both today and tomorrow. Picture this: lace up at the TRIA Skills Rink with Red Bull's Light the Lamp challenge and a DJ truck blasting tunes all day. Grab horse and carriage rides or hop on the Saint Paul Pioneer Press Trolley Rides and Tales every 30 minutes from noon to 4 p.m. on Market Street. Inside the RiverCentre, dive into the Mini Mite Hockey Zone with North Star Therapy Animals from 2 to 4 p.m., street hockey demos like Minnesota Diversified Hockey's Sled Hockey League at noon, and non-stop World Juniors watch parties in the Explore Minnesota room from noon till late.

Catch the Timberwolves taking on the Brooklyn Nets at Target Center tonight at 7 p.m., or rock out with Soul Asylum and Tommy Stinson at First Avenue starting at 8 p.m. Head to Hell's Kitchen on South 9th Street for their Hell-a-Dazzle brunch with Jeff Ray and the Stakes from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., or wander Norway House's Gingerbread Wonderland until 5 p.m. Over in St. Paul, Sister Act the Musical tours the Ordway Theatre at 2 p.m., per Ticketmaster listings. History buffs, Holidays on the Hill at James J. Hill House offers Gilded Age Christmas tours every half hour from 10 a.m., as noted by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Tomorrow, Sunday the 28th, the festival continues till 4 p.m. with more trolley rides, carriage romps, and watch parties featuring movies like Ice Castles at 11 a.m. Trans-Siberian Orchestra lights up Target Center at 3 and 7:30 p.m. with The Ghost of Christmas Eve. Through the week, expect daily fun like New Year's Eve fireworks at 8 p.m. in Rice Park after the USA vs. Sweden game—free Metro Transit rides from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. make it easy. GLOW Holiday Festival sparkles at CHS Field tonight too, according to Vivid Seats.

Whether you're puck-chasing or holiday glowing, the Twin Cities are your winter playground. Bundle up and make memories.

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