Dayton’s Holiday Market opened this week and it comes with a bit of nostalgia this year.
The now annual holiday market will include more than one hundred vendors, and will give shoppers a chance to grab a bite to eat or a beverage while they're browsing the expanded market.
"Earl Giles is hosting a mini Jingle Giles Holiday Bar, so they are gonna have really fun holiday themed cocktails and mocktails," explains market organizer Mitch Berthiaume.
She says they'll have a Minnesota winter classic, and an old Dayton's favorite - wild rice soup. But it's not the only favorite brought back from the old Dayton's.
"And this year we're adding popovers," says Berthiaume. "And Rustica Bakery is making a similar ginger cookie that we all got when we went up to the 8th floor auditorium and saw the Christmas displays."
There's a lot of new attractions too, such as a gourmet grocery market, as they continue to evolve the market which is now in its fifth year.
"Everybody can get everything done in one place because there's so much of a selection," adds Berthiaume.
Oh, and those ever-so-popular Santa Bears? This year it's the 40th anniversary so big things are planned. They have brought back the original 1985 Santa Bear costume that marched in the old Holidazzle parades for a photo-op with shoppers.
"1985 was the first and we're at 2025, so we are celebrating Santa Bear's 40th birthday," says Berthiaume. "So we have a limited edition bear coming out that is sold and launches on Black Friday. We follow suit with what Dayton's department store used to do when we used to stand in line and wait for our Santa Bears. And that's exactly what has been happening the last four years here at Dayton's. People stand in line 4:00, 6:00 in the morning and wait to get their Santa Bear."
The market is open through December 27. They will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and December 26.
WHAT: Dayton's Holiday Market
WHERE: The Dayton's Project, 700 Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, MN 55402
WHEN: Open now through 12/27, Monday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sundays noon to 5:00 p.m. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, December 26.
NEED TO KNOW: Butcher and the Boar will serve popovers, wild rice soup, wine and beer. Rustica Bakery will serve Dayton’s Ginger cookies. Earl Giles is hosting the Jingle Giles bar, serving favorite holiday themed cocktails and mocktails along with Swedish meatballs, pickle dip and potato chips and cookies. Santa Bears 40th Birthday Bear will launch in Black Friday. 107 local makers will have your favorite holiday gifts.