It's only early-October. Temps will be in the 80s again this week. But fear not, it's time to think about Christmas and the holidays in downtown Minneapolis.
First it was the announcement that Holidazzle is back. But now, on the other end of downtown's Nicollet Mall, the holidays are already arriving at the Four Seasons Hotel as well.
Setup is underway on the hotel's popular Nordic Village, with eight cozy, cedar cabins lining the outdoor terrace four floors up. General Manager Florian Riedel says it all starts the first weekend of November with the launch of the weekend winter markets.
"During the day, we'll invite local vendors to come here, and there's going to be a holiday market if you want," says Riedel. "So, each of the cabins has a different vendor. It's going to be food and drink so people can come up here shopping, you know, spend the day with us, and in the evening we will then serve dinner in the cabins."
The winter markets are free and open to the public on weekend afternoons. New this year, a larger cabin called "The Lodge" that can seat up to 24 people for dinner.
Riedel says it's part of their culture at the upscale hotel.
"We love the winter and we want to bring people together," Riedel explains. "Let's enjoy this, have fun together during the day. You know, let's go to the markets and in the evening come together and break bread and share food. And I think that's just a wonderful way that we can contribute to this community."
The Nordic Village at the Four Seasons is outside on the hotel's fourth floor terrace. It opens November 1. The market is open Saturday and Sunday 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (weather dependent). The market is complimentary.