Christmas Time at The Mill
310 2nd Ave SW • Waseca, MN 56093
A free Christmas celebration for children, families and our community.
A whole Christmas experience — free for families.
Walk into The Mill and find a day built for children and families: Santa, Christmas characters, crafts, face painting, story time, free books, stuffies, toys and giveaways, holiday entertainment, cookies and hot chocolate, decorated Christmas trees and plenty of places to make memories together.
Free admission. Free core activities. Families take their own photos and enjoy Christmas Time at their own pace.
One community. Thousands of memories.
In 2025, Christmas Time welcomed 1,140 people in just six hours, including 475 children. In 2026, we're expanding to seven hours to welcome even more families.
Christmas Time is bigger than one location.
Christmas Time is the nonprofit organization behind the celebration. Christmas Time at The Mill is our signature 2026 event in Waseca. Our name, mission and new web address are designed to grow with the organization for years to come.
Keeping the Magic of Christmas Free for Every Family.
What you'll find at Christmas Time
Visit Santa
Make your own Christmas memories with Santa in a festive setting.
Christmas Crafts
Hands-on, volunteer-guided activities for children and families.
Free Books
Free books are part of Christmas Time each year, giving children another special part of the experience to take home and enjoy.
Holiday Characters
Meet familiar Christmas characters throughout the event.
Live Performances
Holiday music and performances from youth and community groups.
Stuffies
Children may receive donated stuffies through Waseca Area Neighborhood Services.
Cookies & Cocoa
Free cookies and hot chocolate add a little extra warmth to the day, with support from Owatonna Hy-Vee through donated and reduced-cost treats and supplies.
Special Giveaways
Larger stuffies and donated toys may be shared as special event giveaways.
MTTG
Kids helping kids make Christmas brighter through a youth-led toy collection and giveaway.
The Mill becomes a Christmas experience.
For one special day each December, The Mill in Waseca is transformed with lights, decorations, activities, entertainment and spaces where families can simply enjoy Christmas together.
Christmas Time is designed to remove the cost barrier from the core experience and create a welcoming day for the whole community.
Meet MTTG
Christmas giving means even more when children get involved. Through MTTG, Michael collects new or gently used, age-appropriate toys and stuffed animals from classmates, friends and community members so those toys can be shared with children attending Christmas Time.
A simple idea with a powerful message: kids helping kids make Christmas brighter.
Christmas Trees
Our 4-foot pre-lit Christmas trees are sponsored by community members, displayed during Christmas Time, and then shared with people of any age or living situation who truly need a tree of their own.
In 2025, four trees found new homes.
People make the magic possible.
Christmas Time happens because volunteers, businesses, organizations, donors and community partners choose to give their time, talents and resources.
Together, they create an experience families can enjoy at no cost.
Follow the magic all year.
Follow Christmas Time for announcements, entertainment updates, MTTG news, sponsor recognition and everything leading up to December 5.