10 Joyful Ways to Spend the Holidays in Walker, MN 2022
December 9, 2022
We love the holiday and winter season here in the Leech Lake area and we’re so excited that it’s finally here! There is so much happening around town throughout December whether you live nearby or you’re taking a little winter vacation to northern Minnesota. Keep reading so you don’t miss out on any of the fun!
10 ways to spend the holidays in Walker, MN
Some ways to spend the holidays in Walker include:
1. Breakfast with Santa
On Saturday, December 10th from 9:00 am-12:00 pm, you and your littles can enjoy breakfast with Santa at the Ironfire Bar & Grill! You’ll be able to enjoy a breakfast buffet, hot cocoa bar, and ornament painting. You can also get your picture taken with Santa as well as check out his sleigh. Don’t forget to bring your letter to Santa, too!
2. Holiday Self-Care Yoga
The holiday season can get hectic and one thing we might forget to do is take care of ourselves. Carve out some time on Saturday, December 10th from 10:00-11:00 am for some guided self-care yoga at Portage Brewing Company led by Northern Yoga & Wellness. Learn more here!
3. Skate with Santa
For just $5 per person on Sunday, December 11th, you can go to the WACC Indoor Rink to skate with Santa from 2:00-4:00 pm. One fun way we love to enjoy the wintertime is to strap on our skates and head out to the rink. Now you and your kids can do it with Santa, too!
4. Last-minute holiday shopping
There’s still plenty of time to get any of your last-minute gifts for those you’re shopping for this winter! Walker, MN is not only an excellent place for shopping but there are tons of stores where you can get unique gifts you’ll only be able to find here! Some of our favorite places to shop include:
- Christmas Point Wild Rice Co.
- TJ’s Gifts
- Heritage Arts & Gifts
- Lundrigans Clothing
- Reeds Sporting Goods
And more! Check out our shopping guide!
5. Day of Dark
The Winter Solstice marks the shortest, darkest day of the year, and what else is there to do other than celebrate it? Portage Brewing Co. is hosting their Day of Dark 2022 on December 17th from 12:00-9:00 pm. You’ll be able to enjoy dark beers on tap as well as dark music and artwork by Shane Kingsland! They’ll also release their holiday bottle of “Woods of Winter Vanilla Bean Scotch Ale” and other holiday bundles that will only be available during this event!
6. Live music at the 502
Starting at 7:00 pm on Fridays and Saturdays, you can enjoy live music at The 502 restaurant. Whether you just want a reason to get out and about or you don’t have plans for New Year’s Eve yet, you can always count on live music on the weekends! Keep an eye on their lineup!
7. Enjoy the snow
December is the best time to enjoy all the beautiful snow that makes its way to northern Minnesota! There are so many outdoor activities that can get us out and about including:
- Snowshoeing in Shingobee Recreation Area and the Northern Country Trail
- Snowmobiling on the Heartland or Paul Bunyan State Trail
- Ice fishing solo or with a Leech Lake guide
- Open ice skating
- Cross-country skiing on Leech Lake’s ski trails
8. Corona Cornhole
Cabana’s knows just how long winter can get, so they’ve set up Corona Cornhole on Tuesdays at 6:00 pm! While you’re not required to drink Corona, it is $2 domestic beers (for cornhole teams), $2 tacos, and Tito’s Tuesday, otherwise known as “Triple ‘T’ Tuesdays.”
9. New Year’s Eve Dinner Specials
Charlie’s Up North hosts Chinese Night on Thursdays as well as Friday and Saturday dinner specials every week. On New Year’s Eve, they’ll have a special dinner menu that will be perfect to help you ring in the New Year. If you’re still trying to figure out your dinner plans, check out Charlie’s this year!
10. New Year’s Yoga and Journaling
The New Year is the perfect time to reflect on all that you have accomplished in 2022 and everything you want to do in 2023. Portage Brewing Company is hosting a New Year’s Yoga and Journaling class from 10:00-11:00 am on Saturday, December 31st to help yogis of all skill levels with a yoga session and guide them through intention setting for the new year.
No matter what you do, there’s no wrong way to spend the holidays up north in Walker, MN. If you’re visiting Walker in December and have any questions about where to stay, what to do, or where to eat, contact us!