Saturday, December 6, 2025
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

Shop local and meander along Grand Avenue while enjoying holiday treats and entertainment. Special visits from Santa and great deals to complete your holiday gift list.

NOTE: Voting for the Holiday Storefront Decor Contest ends at 3 PM on December 6, 2025. Winners will be announced at Happy Hour at Red Rabbit between 3 - 4 PM.

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Grand Meander Activities

During the Event (11 AM - 3 PM)

• Visit Grand Ave Businesses for Special Sales and Activities

• Free Trolley Rides (2 Trolleys will be on Grand Avenue this year!)

• Caroling by the Elizabethan Syngers (Schedule below)

• Santa Visits & Photo Opps (Schedule below)

• Holiday Storefront Decor Contest

10 AM

• Fire Truck rides with Winter Carnival Vulcans at Emmett’s and Saji-Ya (ends at 2 PM)

• 16th Annual Summit Avenue Artisan Festival at St. Paul United Church of Christ

11 AM

• Storytime on Trolley - *12/3/25 Update: Seats for the storytime trolley are sold out. Guests who haven't signed up are still welcome to line up in case of no-shows, but seating isn't guaranteed.

• Local Author and Illustrators Celebration with Book Signing at Wet Paint

• Bagpiping Santa at Moloney’s Irish Imports (ends at 1:45 PM)

11:30 AM

• Meet the magical polar bear Lady Bear on Red Balloon's patio! (ends at 1 PM)

1 PM

• Storytime on Trolley - *12/3/25 Update: Seats for the storytime trolley are sold out. Guests who haven't signed up are still welcome to line up in case of no-shows, but seating isn't guaranteed.

• Golden Ladle Soup Tasting Contest Begins (Soup samples are available to the public while supplies last.)

• Meet local author Matt Eicheldinger for free caricatures and a book signing at Red Balloon Bookshop

2 PM

• Sencha Tea Bar Holiday Maker’s Market

3-4 PM

• Happy Hour at Red Rabbit with Saint Paul Winter Carnival Royalty

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Elizabethan Syngers Caroling Schedule

NOTE: Times are subject to flexibility based on travel conditions during the event.

Santa Visit Schedule

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FREE Trolley Ride Locations to Hop-On and Hop-Off

Heading West on Grand:

619 Grand Ave – Grand Hand Gallery
891 Grand Ave – Red Balloon Bookshop
1089 Grand Ave – Spectacle Shop
1261 Grand Ave – Kowalski’s Markets (space close to Ayd Mill)
1647 Grand Ave – (entrance to parking lot across street from Patagonia)

Heading East on Grand:

1738 Grand Ave – A Johnson & Sons Florists
1580 Grand Ave – Nothing Bundt Cakes
1340 Grand Ave – Colossal Café
982 Grand Ave – Lloyds Automotive Service
788 Grand Ave – Red Rabbit

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In-Store Deals

Find holiday deals along Grand Avenue at local businesses

CAFE LATTE

A Cafe Latte cart of holiday baked goods (stolen bread, candy cane buttercream cake, gingerbread bundt cake, crackers, caramels and sugar plum scones) available to purchase. In the wine bar we will be serving up spiked espresso drinks & festive bubbles.

EM QUE VIET RESTAURANT AND BAR

Build your own Hot Chocolate Station for five dollars (hot chocolate, candy canes, marshmallows, whip cream and sprinkles to put on your cup of hot chocolate).

EVERGREEN COLLECTIVE

Free Swedish Dishcloth with forty-dollar purchase

FACE FOUNDRIÉ SAINT PAUL

Visit store for details.

GOODTHINGS

20% Off All Ornaments

IRON RANGER

Visit restaurant for details.

MINNESOTA WILD

Selling tickets and 25th Anniversary Coffee Table Books in Victoria Crossing building.

NOTHING BUT CANNA

We will have fun snacks and special event only holiday specials.

PET EVOLUTION ST. PAUL

Visit store for details.

SEASONED SPECIALTY FOOD MARKET

Beginning with Grand Meander, we’re offering major discounts and tastings all season long—from handcrafted sauces to artisan snacks made by Minnesota makers.

SENCHA TEA BAR

Maker’s Market for Holiday Shopping 2-6pm and deals on Drinks, Bulk Tea, Merchandise and Gift Cards.

THE LEXINGTON

Buy one-hundred dollars in gift cards get twenty-five dollars free, Saintly pop-up shop and photo ops.

Free Treats

Enjoy delicious free treats from local Grand Avenue businesses.

A. JOHNSON & SONS FLORIST

Santa visit. Holiday treats and "Spin the Prize Wheel".

BANKCHEROKEE

The BankCherokee team is bringing holiday cheer to Grand Avenue! Join us outside our Grand Ave. branch for a festive treat—hot apple cider, seasonal goodies, and plenty of warm smiles. Stop by, warm up, and celebrate the season with us!

COOKS OF CROCUS HILL

Sugar cookie decorating with Summit Hill Association.

EMERY'S PLAYHOUSE

We’ll be giving out festive favor bags for kids that include a mini puzzle, crayons, a candy cane, and a special coupon for parents to shop in-store!

GOLDEN FIG FINE FOODS

We will be roasting Iowa grown chestnuts out front!

GREY AREA CANNABIS

Join us for a festive Christmas Shopping Event packed with cheer, great deals, and holiday fun! Stop by to enjoy a free beverage tasting, free entry into our exclusive giveaway.

KINDERBERRY HILL

Enjoy a complementary family warming space - stop in to our space for a free kiddo snack, baby changing area, and first aid station. Check out our center and get a free Membership to the MN Zoo or Children’s Museum with enrollment!

MOR

Stop by Mor during Grand Meander for a warm cup of hot apple cider and a dose of Christmas spirit. Come shop, sip, and soak in the cozy holiday vibes on Grand Ave!

NOTHING BUNDT CAKES

Free Cake Tasting.

NOTHING BUT CANNA

Fun snacks and special event only holiday specials.

Other Activities

Participate in other activities put on by local businesses during Grand Meander.

EMMETT'S AND SAJI-YA

Fire Truck rides with the Vulcans from 10-2pm!

MOLONEY'S IRISH IMPORTS

Enjoy live music with Bagpipe Santa from 11 AM - 1:45 PM!

RED BALLOON BOOKSHOP

Story reading on Trolley is sold out, guests who haven't signed up are still welcome to line up in case of no-shows. Join local author Matt Eicheldinger for free caricatures at 1:00 pm in the bookshop!

WET PAINT

Local Author and Illustrators Celebration with Book Signing from 11 AM - 1 PM. Wet Paint isn’t just your favorite art supply store…we’re also your favorite art book store!

ST. PAUL'S UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST

16th Annual Summit Avenue Artisan Festival - A free winter market from 10 AM - 4 PM.

DON BIEHN POP-UP ART GALLERY

Featuring original paintings in oil and watercolor by award winning artist Don Biehn– Landscapes, Portraits & Urban Paintings.

ART AT HIDDEN RIVER

A juried holiday-season sale of quality art and fine craft hosted at Highland Park Middle School.

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Holiday Storefront Decor Contestants

New in 2025! Vote for your favorite Holiday Storefront Decor during the event! QR Codes will be posted to scan and place your votes by 3 PM. Winners to be announced during Happy Hour at Red Rabbit (3-4 PM).

• A. Johnson & Sons Florist

• Bread & Chocolate

• Cafe Latte

• Catzen Coffee

• Chico’s

• eM Que Viet Restaurant and Bar

• Emery’s Playhouse

• Evergreen Collective

• Golden Fig Fine Foods

• GoodThings

• Grey Area Cannabis

• Kinderberry Hill

• Lakeside Orthodontics (✨ 2024 Winner)

• mor

• Pet Evolution

• Red Balloon Bookshop

• Sencha Tea Bar

• The Lexington

• Zimmerman’s Dry Goods

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Golden Ladle Soup Tasting Contest (1 - 3 PM)

2025 Guest Judges: Vineeta Sawkar (The WCCO Morning News), Saint Paul Winter Carnival King Boreas & Queen Aurora, Jess Fleming (Pioneer Press), Karl Benson (Owner of Cooks of Crocus Hill), and Chris Jensen (Grand Avenue Business Association).

Contestants include:

• bb.q Chicken

• Cafe Latte

• eM Que Viet

• Emmett’s (✨ 2024 Winner: Crab Bisque)

• Iron Ranger

• La Cucaracha

• Red Rabbit

• The Lexington

• Saji-Ya

• Zimmerman Dry Goods

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Thank you 2025 Grand Meander Title Sponsors

Thank you 2025 General Grand Meander Sponsors

BankCherokee

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Activity Host and Sponsor Sign-Ups Now Closed

Email info@grandave.com with questions or additional information about your participation in Grand Meander.

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If you are interested in participating or volunteering to help with the Grand Meander, please contact info@grandave.com.