In Dakota County, quaint alternatives to frenetic holiday shopping

With Black Friday madness behind us, quieter destinations are offering themselves for holiday shopping in Dakota County and environs this season, some with special events.

Here's a selective rundown:

Northfield's quaint downtown has an array of art galleries, candy shops, toy stores, bookstores, and boutiques.

During a Winter Walk shopping event on Dec. 11, the entire town is lit by luminarias. About 100 light up the Bridge Square area and the bridges coming into town.

"If we get a light snowfall, it's a Frank Capra dream come true," said Jane Pausch, events director for the city of the Northfield Chamber of Commerce

Volunteer Krin Finger said the idea for putting luminarias all over town came from a business owner who was from Sante Fe, N.M., which does the same thing.

Streets are blocked off and horses with lighted wagons trot down Division Street, carrying passengers.

Finger said that her business, the Rare Pair, goes through 24 gallons of apple cider and 1,000 cookies.

Regular vendors at Riverwalk, which draws people during the summer months, will be set up in the Armory.

Frosty and Rudolph hand out candy canes for the kids. Young people also can look at an old-fashioned train set at the Northfield library and take free reindeer rides outside the Archer Hotel.

People can have their pictures taken with members of the James-Younger gang at the Northfield Historical Society.

Pausch said last year's event drew somewhere between 5,000 and 10,000 people.

Some people come dressed in Victorian holiday garb. A woman dresses up as a Christmas tree every year, and people outfit their dogs with Christmas lights. Carolers sing throughout the event. If it's warm enough, a trumpet player shows up, of his own accord, and plays holiday songs.

There are "lots of little vignettes that happen," said Finger.

Historic downtown Hastings has a variety of antique stores and other small businesses.

Tony Berens, vice president of the downtown business association, who owns Berens Jewelry and a gift shop called Tenacious Ks, said most stores are open until 7 p.m. during the holiday season.

Stores do their own things through the holidays. Berens is having book signings on weekends, such as one with Hastings photographer and writer David Youngren, signing books recording images of the new Hastings bridge.

Down the road, the LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings opens its gift shop and special holiday market for the first couple of weekends in December.

The estate sells gift items such as artwork, locally made products, books, and holiday items like candies and decorations.

"We give them tea and cookies," said Margaret Goderstad, a volunteer at the estate. "It's a nice warm place to be on a cold day."

The holiday market will be open Fridays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the first time this year, in addition to Saturdays and Sundays.

Lakeville's Holyoke Avenue has an assortment of boutiques, and on Saturday, Dec. 6, there's a Holiday on Main event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kids can visit with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus. There are live reindeer and trolley rides, and four groups provide music throughout the event.

Most events take place at the Post Office Mall. The event draws about 2,500 people.

The new Eagan outlet mall, Twin Cities Premium Outlets, has extended holiday hours for shoppers. It will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday for the rest of the holiday season. And for last-minute shoppers, on Christmas Eve, the mall will open at 9 a.m. and close at 6 p.m. The Great Hall has a big fireplace for chilled customers to warm up after walking through the open-air mall.

Burnsville Center has visits with Santa from now through Christmas Eve, and holds arts and crafts shows on Dec. 12-14 and Dec. 18-21.

Liz Rolfsmeier is a Twin Cities-based freelance journalist.