Julebyen

07/13/2026

🧌🔨 BIG THINGS ARE HAPPENING IN KNIFE RIVER! 🔨🧌

The village is growing!

Our incredible volunteers have been hard at work building five brand-new Troll Huts that will become part of the magical world of Julebyen – Scandinavian Nordic Christmas Village Festival!
These whimsical homes will help bring our Nordic village to life, creating an unforgettable experience for families as they explore the festival this December.
A huge THANK YOU goes out to everyone who has donated their time, talents, and hard work to make this dream a reality. Your dedication is helping create something truly special for our community.

We'd also like to extend our sincere appreciation to LP Building Solutions for generously donating building materials and supporting this project.

Community partnerships like these make Julebyen possible!
This is just the beginning—there's so much more to come, and we can't wait to share it with you.
🎄 Save the Date! 📅 December 5–6, 2026 📍 Knife River, Minnesota – Home of Julebyen
Follow our page as we continue building the magic and giving you behind-the-scenes looks at what's coming to Julebyen 2026.

We can't wait to welcome you to the village this Christmas! ❤️🎄

07/02/2026

🎄✨ SAVE THE DATE! ✨🎄

Mark your calendars for December 5–6, 2026 and get ready to experience the magic of Julebyen – A Scandinavian Nordic Christmas Village Festival!

Step into a festive winter wonderland filled with twinkling lights, holiday traditions, unique shopping, delicious food, heated train rides, live entertainment, Nordic folklore, family activities, and so much more.

🛍️ Shop local artisans and holiday vendors
🚂 Ride festive heated trains through a snowy landscape
🍲 Enjoy great food, treats, and warm drinks
🎶 Experience live music and holiday entertainment
🧌 Meet trolls, gnomes, and other Nordic characters
🎄 Create lasting memories with family and friends

Whether you're starting a new holiday tradition or continuing a beloved one, Julebyen is the perfect place to celebrate the season.

📅 December 5–6, 2026
🎄 Julebyen – Scandinavian Nordic Christmas Village Festival in Knife River

Thank you to our sponsors Lovin' Lake County, MN !!

More details, attractions, and special announcements will be coming soon!

❤️ Tag your family and friends and tell us who you're bringing to Julebyen 2026!

🎄✨

12/08/2025

***** Thank you ***** to all the Julebyen ‘25 volunteers, sponsors, vendors and attendees! You helped make Julebyen 2025 a big success! Proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to maintain the public beach, numerous hiking trails, tennis and pickleball courts and youth activities associated with Knife River Recreation Council. A special shout out to Lovin Lakes County and KRRC for sponsoring this festival.
Have a great holiday season. See you next year!!

Note: these photos are from last year. If you have a favorite photo from Julebyen 2025 of a volunteer or vendor, please post it here along with a nice "thank you". We appreciate you all!

12/06/2025

🎄✨ JULEBYEN 2025 BEGINS TODAY! ✨🎄
The magic of Scandinavian Christmas has arrived in Knife River! Our village is glowing, the vendors are setting up, the trolls are stirring, and the coffee is hot. It’s time to celebrate the traditions, stories, music, and community that make Julebyen so special.

Join us for a full weekend of Nordic fun:

📅 SAT. Dec 6 — 9:00 to 4:00
📅 SUN. Dec 7 — 10:00 to 3:00

From the Outdoor Market and Troll Village to delicious treats, live entertainment, and surprises around every corner — there’s something for everyone.

🎅🏼❄️ Velkommen to Julebyen 2025! Let the festivities begin!

12/05/2025

Julebyen Parking: There is lots of free parking all over town. Handicapped parking across from the Rec Center. There will be traffic volunteers ready to assist you. Look for the green areas on the map.

12/04/2025

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1234108628502463
Thanks to Lovin' Lake County for their generous sponsorship!

Send a message to learn more

12/03/2025

🌟 FESTIVAL VILLAGE HIGHLIGHT 🌟
Live Nativity • 11:00 AM • Sunday, Dec. 7

Knife River Lutheran Church is once again bringing the Live Nativity to Julebyen 2024 — a beautiful retelling of The Story of Jesus' Birth right here in our snowy Festival Village.

👼 Featuring:
• Theme: The Story of Jesus’ Birth
• Choir: JOYFUL, directed by Patti Stoddard
• Narrator: Tim Anderson
• Actors: Knife River youth and adults — locals and relatives who bring the story to life

🐴🐐🐄🐑🐪 YES, REAL ANIMALS!
Horses, goats, a miniature cow, sheep, a donkey… and a camel!
Stay after the performance — attendees are welcome to feed the animals. Grain is provided by the owners.

🙏 Special Thanks To:
• Veritas Ridge Farm – horses
• Noatun Community Wooden Boat Works – goats
• CJ Forestry Mulching – cow, donkey, sheep, and the beloved camel!

Bundle up, bring the family, and experience this heartwarming Julebyen tradition in Festival Village. ❄️✨

12/01/2025

The Julnissas are sponsoring this year’s Julebyen Scavenger Hunt at the Two Harbors Library! 🎉📚

They’ve added new Scandinavian books—and even troll bells—to the collection.

Prizes include 5 Adult + 5 Children’s Dome Car tickets for the Julebyen Troll Train! 🚂✨

Stop by and chat with Madeline, Hannah, or Emily for all the details and to join the fun.

Huge thanks to the incredible TH Library team for supporting Julebyen again this year—see you December 6–7 in Knife River, MN! 🇳🇴❤️

12/01/2025

This year’s Scandinavian quilt theme is “Gnomes in Space”—because of course gnomes explore every corner of the universe! ✨🪐

Made and donated by local volunteer A.B. Hovis (aka Hjørdis the Viking Warrior Queen) and beautifully quilted by RuthAnn Grace, this lap quilt is truly out of this world.

You can see it on display in the Indoor Market. Tickets are $2.00 and available at the market.

The winner will be drawn at the end of Julebyen on Sunday, December 7. The winning ticket number will be posted on our website and page. If it’s yours, contact the JB Chair!

11/29/2025

Grandma and her granddaughters are busy in the kitchen, baking spritz cookies for the Julebyen Bakeri. Tradition (and sugar!) at its sweetest.