This Week in Geek (12/22/2025–12/28/2025)

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In-Person Events
Virtual Events

Welcome to This Week in Geek, your guide to events of interest to the Minnesota geek community for the week of Monday, December 22, to Sunday, December 28.

Although inclusion in This Week in Geek is not an official endorsement of any event or organizer, we do our best to feature events that appear safe, responsible, and consistent with our mission and values. If you feel that one of the events below is incompatible with Twin Cities Geek as an organization, we encourage you to contact us at info@twincitiesgeek.com with your concerns.

In-Person Events

Illuminate Festival of Lights

What: Arts, Family
When: Now through Saturday, December 27
Where: Pan Asian Center (Maplewood Mall)

This festival features handcrafted lantern sculptures, Chinese acrobatic performances, and a red-lantern night market featuring local businesses. There are also photo stations that rotate themes throughout the festival’s run, including lanterns and legends, winter blooms, pop culture, anime, and boughs of holly. Individual tickets are $14.95–25; season passes are available.

A Christmas Carol

What: Theater & Comedy
When: Now through Sunday, December 28; various times
Where: Guthrie Theater

The classic holiday tale A Christmas Carol is back at the Guthrie Theater with their fun adaptation that debuted in 2021. This production stays true to the familiar story of Scrooge and his visits with the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Christmas Present, and Christmas Future, while bringing a fresh perspective and injecting humor from the Dickens original. Tickets are $35–148. (Read our 2021 review of A Christmas Carol.)

LUMINISCENCE

What: Music
When: Now through Wednesday, December 31, at 7:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m.
Where: The Basilica of St. Mary

The Basilica becomes a canvas for a combination light-and-music show like no other. “Experience a show where history, 360° video mapping, and music come together to reveal this jewel of Minnesota’s heritage as you have never seen it before.” Tickets start at $45.99.

Winter Lights 2025

What: Community, Arts
When: Now through Wednesday, December 31
Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (Chaska)

Take a stroll through the illuminated gardens at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. These outdoor light displays highlight the beauty of nature, including flowers, trees, and a giant cuetlaxóchitl (poinsettia). Other highlights include an indoor evergreen forest, live music on select nights, and the Warming House bar. Check out the event page for more information on hours, performers, and theme nights. Tickets are $25 with discounts available for members and Indigenous peoples; kids 15 and under are free on non-themed nights with a ticketed adult.

GLOW Holiday Festival 2025

What: Family, Arts
When: Now through Sunday, January 4
Where: CHS Field

Enjoy a fun holiday experience at CHS Field, home of the St. Paul Saints. GLOW is a holiday spectacle featuring over one-million holiday lights, illuminated trees, playful activities, and art installations. Tickets are $12.75 for children and $21.75 for adults.

Gingerbread Wonderland

What: Arts, Community
When: Now through Thursday, January 8
Where: Norway House

Norway House’s annual Gingerbread Wonderland is a gallery collection featuring cookie recreations of famous locations in Minnesota, fairy tales, and more by local bakers of all ages and skill levels. Tickets are $5–10; kids 5 and under are free.

Yazeba’s Bed and Breakfast: Teen Gaming

What: Gaming
When: Monday, December 22, at 4:30 p.m.
Where: Ramsey County Library, Shoreview

Teens in grades 6–12 can join this fantasy tabletop role-playing game hosted by Ramsey County Library in Shoreview. Yazeba’s Bed and Breakfast is about the guests visiting the home of a heartless witch. If it is new to you, it can be learned in 15 min. Recommended for fans of RPGs and Studio Ghibli films. Registration required.

Free Yoga at Union Depot

What: Sports & Fitness
When: Monday, December 22, at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Union Depot

Get your yoga mat and water ready for a free yoga class at the beautiful Union Depot in St. Paul. This event is taught by Studio 9-to-5 in the Depot’s Waiting Room or in the East Plaza when the weather is nice. Monday’s class focuses on a total-body sculpt workout, while Wednesday’s class is less-intense general yoga for all levels (and cancelled for 12/23 and 12/31). See the event page on the Union Depot website for more information.

Holiday Movie Trivia

What: Trivia
When: Monday, December 22, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: King Coil Spirits

Join Trivia Mafia for some holiday movie trivia. “Holiday attire optional (but delightful!)”

Minneapolis Institute of Art Public Tours: Inspired by Books

What: Arts
When: Tuesday, December 23, 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Where: Minneapolis Institute of Art

Take a specially curated tour through the Minneapolis Institute of Art’s collection as inspired by books. Each month’s tour will focus on a different book for inspiration, with December exploring Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel. Tours meet in the General Mills Lobby on the first floor.

Violent Night

What: Movies
When: Thursday, December 25, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Trylon Cinema

Catch a holiday screening of Violent Night, the 2022 action-comedy flick in which a disgruntled Santa becomes a surprise combatant against mercenaries who’ve taken a dysfunctional family hostage on Christmas Eve. The movie stars David Harbour, John Leguizamo, Beverly D’Angelo, and Alex Hassell. The Christmas Day screenings will feature introductions by screenwriters (and Minnesotans) Josh Miller and Pat Casey. Tickets are $8.

Pan-African KWANZAA: Remembering 2025

What: Community, Music, Food & Drink, Family
When: Friday, December 26, through Wednesday, December 31, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Midtown Global Market

Celebrate Kwanzaa with the community at Midtown Global Market! Each day will recognize a different principle of Kwanzaa, host a variety of activities, and begin with an opening ceremony that honors ancestors. Activities include storytelling, live music, art showcases, performances, a fashion show, youth-led activities, and more. This celebration is hosted by the Cultural Wellness Center.

Museum Nights Event

What: Science & Tech, Nightlife
When: Friday, December 26, at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Science Museum of Minnesota

Embrace the season’s long, wintry nights with a museum adventure. Explore the galleries, catch an Omnitheater show, and enjoy special Science Live performances including: Science Spectacle, Talks with a Scientist, Science of Sex trivia (adults-only), and a live lava pour. Event included with regular museum admission.

AkeomeCon

What: Convention
When: Friday, December 26, through Sunday, December 28
Where: Sheraton Minneapolis West (Minnetonka)

Akeome Con (formerly Ahegao Con) is an adults-only celebration of anime, self-identified weeb culture, and ringing in the new year. The convention will include panels, a cosplay pool party, late-night gatherings, karaoke, vendors, and more. There will also be performances and DJ sets by Theology, Midnight Minxes, Riku Namako, d.notive, MangaBookGuy, and Diamond Zenos. Weekend badges start at $85 and there are day passes available. Please be aware that this convention is for attendees aged 21 and older only.

Better Believe in Beavers

What: Educational
When: Saturday, December 27, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Fort Snelling State Park

Learn about the vital role beavers play in our ecosystem during this one-hour educational presentation.

The Rocky Horror Holiday Show

What: Movies
When: Saturday, December 27, at 11:30 p.m.
Where: The Parkway Theater

Watch a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the “longest-running midnight movie of all time,” with Transvestite Soup’s live holiday-themed shadow cast performing for your pleasure as part of the cult classic’s well-established tradition. Costumes welcome. Doors open at 11:30 p.m. and tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.

KPop Demon Hunters Christmas Drag Brunch

What: Theater & Comedy, Food & Drinks
When: Sunday, December 28, at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Where: Quincy Hall

Enjoy a themed drag performance and a delicious meal at one of Flip Phone’s popular brunch events. This week features songs from the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack. Costumes and singing along are highly encouraged. Tickets are $22.60, and attendees must purchase the brunch buffet ($29.99) during the event.

Shieldmaiden Sunday

What: Gaming, Meetup
When: Sunday, December 28, at 12:00 p.m.
Where: Source Comics and Games

Shieldmaiden Sundays are a dedicated space for female-identifying (including trans women/femme) and nonbinary nerds and geeks at Source Comics and Games. This is a recurring weekly event providing a space for women to play games, chat about comics, cosplay, or just enjoy the company of other geeks. Be sure to check out the Source calendar for additional events!

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Virtual Events

Sounds of the Season: Relaxed Matinee with Organist Greg Zelek

What: Music
When: On demand thru Wednesday, December 31
Where: Virtual via livestream

Hear a repertoire of beloved holiday music on the organ played by Greg Zelek. Songs include selections from A Charlie Brown Christmas, composer Richard Purvis, and the animated film The Snowman. This relaxed matinee will feature lowered sound levels, house lights at a glow, and warnings of any upcoming surprises, as well as welcoming attendees to come in and go out as needed. Tickets are $14.

Virtual Pub Quiz Trivia Night

What: Trivia
When: Monday, December 22, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

Get your trivia on from the comfort of home with Geeks Who Drink’s online trivia night. Prove your mettle, and maybe learn a little something!

Virtual Makers Mornings

What: Community, Arts
When: Tuesday, December 23, at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join fellow makers at this morning social hour hosted by the American Swedish Institute. This free event is open to all kind of crafts and is intended as a place to share projects, make some progress, and socialize. Registration is required.

Twin Cities Geek Art Club

What: Arts
When: Wednesday, December 24, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Discord

The Twin Cities Geek art club meets every Wednesday from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on the Twin Cities Geeks Discord. Hop on voice or video and chat while you create art, then share your finished pieces on the #art-club channel! This event is open to all. Join the server by visiting twincitiesgeek.com/discord.

Writer’s Roulette

What: Meetup
When: Thursday, December 18, at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Stretch those creative-writing muscles at Writer’s Roulette! Each event starts with a writing prompt and 20 minutes to write whatever comes to mind in any genre or style. Then participants are given the option to share their work. “Whether you’re looking for inspiration, practice, or just a creative jolt, Writer’s Roulette is your chance to see where the words take you.” Tickets are $7.

Virtual Transmission

What: Music, Nightlife
When: Friday, December 26, at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Twitch

The popular Transmission dance night is hosting a virtual-music video stream every Friday. DJ Jake Rudh will be bringing New Wave, Alternative, and more ’80s-centric greats directly to your home. So, dance, dance, dance to the radio (or, in this case, Twitch stream).

A Happy Mew Year: Virtual Cat-Drawing Tutorial

What: Arts, Family
When: Saturday, December 27, at 1:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Join artist Poorly Drawn Cats (aka Heloísa Nora) to learn how to draw whimsical cat-themed drawings. All ages and abilities are welcome for this session with easy to follow, step-by-step instructions. Tickets are $13.56. All participants will get a link to the recorded session and digital copies of the demonstration drawings. No live cat models will be presented, but you are “welcome to supply your own meow-del at home!”

Docu Lovers Club: Discussing Great Documentaries

What: Movies
When: Sunday, December 28, at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Virtual event

This monthly group meets to discuss great documentaries. The selection for December is Take Care of Maya (2023). This film explores how the American health care and legal systems interact when children have complex medical conditions. Everyone is welcome, even if you haven’t seen the film. Free.

Burning Issues Book Club

What: Books
When: Sunday, December 28, at 2:00 p.m.
Where: Virtual via Zoom

Burning Issues Book Club focuses on non-fiction works related to environmental and social justice topics. This month’s selection is Be a Revolution by Ijeoma Oluo, exploring “how everyday people are fighting oppression and changing the world.” Free.

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So, which of these events will you be attending? What events would you like to see featured in the future? Let us know in the comments section below or contact us via email. And don’t forget to add your events to the Twin Cities Geek Community Calendar!