While there are several reasons..  What is a MAJOR reason Christmas light displays bigger and brighter than ever these days?

Christmas Lights Winner

Congrats to the NSP Christmas Lights Winner!

North St. Paul Holiday Cheer

Letters to Santa:  Santa’s Mailbox is officially open outside North St. Paul City Hall from Dec. 1–23, so drop off your wish list and let our famous snowman make sure it gets delivered straight to the North Pole. ⛄️🎅✨

NSP Electric Customers Can Save on Energy Upgrades

If you live in North St. Paul and use NSP for your electric service, good news. The City of North St. Paul Electric Utility is offering rebates on energy-efficient home appliances, with savings applied directly as a credit on your utility bill.

Rebates include $25 back on appliances like refrigerators, washers, dryers, dishwashers, freezers, and dehumidifiers, plus $50 for air purifiers and a new $50 smart thermostat rebate starting in 2026.

Rebates are available until funds run out, require EnergyStar products, and must be submitted within one year of purchase. This program is only for NSP electric customers, not Xcel or other providers.

Click here to learn more

⛸️ Aldrich Arena Is Getting Smarter

Ramsey County is upgrading all 11 of its ice arenas, including Aldrich Arena off White Bear Ave, with energy-saving tech like LED lighting, solar panels, and smart systems to better control ice temps and heating.

The goal is to cut energy use by 20%+ each year, saving taxpayers more than $300,000 annually while keeping rinks running strong for decades.

👉 Learn more about the upgrades at KSTP

🛠️ Save Big Money (Eventually): Minnesota & the Menards Settlement

Minnesota will receive about $630,000 as part of a multi-state settlement with Menards over misleading rebate advertising and price increases during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attorney General’s office found that Menards’ “11% OFF” ads implied an instant discount, when the offer was actually store credit for future purchases, and that prices on some essential items were raised during the pandemic.

As part of the settlement, Menards must make its rebate program more transparent.  Either way, We hope they keep the Jingle...

Got an Event to Share?

We want to hear from you! If you’ve got an event in North St. Paul or Maplewood (55109), send the details to the109online@gmail.com. Whether it’s a fundraiser, concert, class, or community get-together, we’d love to help spread the word and share it with your neighbors.

All Weekend

🎁 Maplewood Mall Christmas Vendor Market 

Who: Local makers, small businesses, and holiday vendors
What: A three-day Christmas Vendor Market featuring unique gifts, treats, and community-focused shopping
When: December 19–21 • All Day
Where: Maplewood Mall
Why: Support local businesses, find one-of-a-kind holiday gifts, and enjoy festive shopping without the cold

Bonus Stop:
🍪 A local favorite P&Js Kitchen mochi cookie pop-up will be there for their final sale of the year. Soft, chewy, cookies you don’t want to miss.

Holiday shopping, but make it local. 🎄✨

Friday

🦄 Unicorn Live at The Dog House

What: A live band night with Unicorn, known for mixing modern hits, classic favorites, and deep cuts across pop, rock, funk, dance, and crossover country. Expect the unexpected.
When: Friday • 8:00 PM
Where: The Dog House Bar & Grill, Maplewood
Why: Because one night you might hear Stevie Wonder, the next Van Halen, then suddenly The Jonas Brothers. It’s a musical rollercoaster and it works.

VIP tables available. Reserve yours through the ticket link for the best seat in the house. 🎶🍻

Learn more on their Facebook Event Page

🎄 Ugly Sweater Party at Bleechers

What: An Ugly Sweater Party at one of Maplewood’s favorite local dive bars. Break out the worst sweater you own and wear it proudly.
When: Friday • 9:00pm - 1:30am
Where: Bleechers Bar & Grill, White Bear Ave, Maplewood
Why: Great drinks, good vibes, TVs everywhere, games galore, and a kitchen serving up Asian and American favorites. Plus, ugly sweaters deserve a proper night out.

Come for the sweaters. Stay for the drinks, laughs, and local bar energy. 🍻🎶

Learn More on the Facebook Event Page

Saturday

🎅🥞 Santa’s Big Maplewood Parade (With Pancakes to Kick It Off!)

Santa is coming to Maplewood, and he’s not just popping by… he’s making the rounds. The day kicks off with pancakes, cocoa, and holiday cheer, then Santa hits the road to visit neighborhoods all across the city.

🥞 Salvation Army Pancake Breakfast & Hot Cocoa

What: Pancake breakfast and hot cocoa to officially kick off Santa’s parade day
When: Saturday, Dec. 20 • 8:30–10:00 AM
(Santa’s first stop around 9:20 AM)
Where: Salvation Army Lakewood, 2080 Woodlynn Ave E, Maplewood

👉  Note: It says RSVP for the breakfast by Dec. 15 - but the form is still active.  We are getting confirmation if we can still RSVP or not.

🚓🎄 Public Safety’s Santa Parade

What: Santa riding through Maplewood with help from Public Safety, spreading cheer stop by stop
When: Saturday, Dec. 20 • 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Where: Various locations across Maplewood
Why: Because watching Santa roll through your neighborhood never gets old

👉 Click Here to See the Map & Follow Santa live using the Santa Tracker map (The parade map link will be active Saturday morning)

Bundle up, wave as Santa passes by, and enjoy one of Maplewood’s most joyful holiday traditions. 🎅✨

Donations are encouraged if you’re able. Suggested items include canned goods, pasta, rice, peanut butter, instant meals, bottled drinks, toiletries, and women’s hygiene products.

Watch what the Grinch has been up to as Maplewood Prepares!

❄️ Winter Wonderland in Oakdale (Our Cousin City!)

Who: Oakdale Recreation, with the Oakdale Area Chamber of Commerce
What: A free, family-friendly winter celebration packed with activities for all ages
When: Saturday • 9:00 AM–1:00 PM
Where: Oakdale Discovery Center & Nature Preserve
Why: Because winter should be fun. Think hayrides, Santa visits, crafts, s’mores by the bonfire, a petting zoo, and plenty of festive cheer.  Horse-drawn hayrides run 10 AM–1 PM.

Parking is limited at the Discovery Center, so plan to park on nearby streets.

Oakdale may not be 55109, but they’re basically family—and this one’s worth the short drive. 🎄🔥🛷

🐖🎄 Christmas Ham Meat Raffle at Moose Lodge

Who: Moose Lodge 963, Maplewood
What: A special Christmas Ham Meat Raffle with seriously good odds
When: Saturday, Dec. 20 • 1:00 PM
Where: Moose Lodge, 1832 Gervais Ct E, Maplewood
Why: Because it’s ham. Christmas ham. And your odds of winning are better than 1 in 110, which is honestly pretty fantastic.

Stop by, grab a ticket, enjoy the lodge vibes, and maybe walk out with your holiday centerpiece covered. 🥩🎅

Learn more on the Facebook Event Page

🎄🎶 The Oatmeal Band: Pre-Christmas Spectacular at Neumann's

Who: The Oatmeal Band, local favorites from the St. Croix River Valley
What: An acoustic/electric holiday-flavored live show full of cheer, laughs, and just enough unpredictability
When: Saturday, Dec. 20 • 7:00 PM
Where: Neumann’s Bar, Maplewood
Why: Because it’s not really the holidays unless someone might recite “The Night Before Christmas,” someone might bring figgy pudding, and someone is definitely drinking homemade egg nog

Festive tunes, legendary bar vibes, and a pre-Christmas night you’ll be talking about on Sunday. 🍻🎄🎸

Learn more on their Facebook Event Page

🎶 Gen X Jukebox at The Dog House

Who: Gen X Jukebox
What: A full-throttle live show celebrating the 1990s, featuring pop, dance, rap, hip-hop, rock, grunge, and country hits performed in full costume
When: Saturday • 8:00 PM
Where: The Dog House Bar & Grill, Maplewood
Why: Relive the last great decade in music with characters like the Spice Girls, Britney Spears, Eddie Vedder, Vanilla Ice, Courtney Love, and Garth Brooks all hitting the stage in one wild night

If you loved the 90s, this one’s a no-brainer. 🎤🕺

Click here to the Facebook Event Page

Monday - Wednesday

💚 The Grinch Is Back at Maplewood Mall

Who: The meanest, baddest, sassiest Grinch in town
What: A free Grinch Meet & Greet with photos and plenty of side-eye
When: Monday–Wednesday, Dec. 22–24 • 10:00 AM–8:00 PM
Where: Maplewood Mall, 3001 White Bear Ave, Maplewood
Why: Because holiday photos are better with a little sass, and meeting the Grinch is a Christmas tradition at this point

Bring the whole family, grab a free photo, and see if your holiday spirit survives the encounter. 🎄💁‍♂️

Winter Warming Spaces

While these warming spaces aren’t located inside 55109, Nobody in our community should face winter alone.  Ramsey County offers several places where anyone can step in from the cold, warm up, and feel safe.

These Winter Warming Spaces provide seating, blankets, warm beverages, light snacks, and—when available—winter essentials like gloves, hats, and hand warmers.

If you or someone you know needs a place to thaw out and regroup this season, these spaces are here to help.

Click here for locations and hours

Visit or Donate to The Toy Shelf

Located at 2266 2nd Street North, North St. Paul, The Toy Shelf is a volunteer-run program bringing smiles to kids from birth to age 16. Families living in 55109, 55119, or 55128 can shop for free toys, games, and books this holiday season — no registration required.

Learn more on their website

This time of year, it’s easy to notice the big, bright things.

The houses lit up like Christmas cards. The displays that make you slow down and smile.

But here’s the truth. The lights don’t matter nearly as much as the people behind them.

You don’t have to be the brightest house on the block to make a difference. Sometimes it’s just showing up.

Sometimes it’s checking on a neighbor, holding a door, offering a kind word, or choosing patience on a slippery road.

Those small lights add up fast.

And if this season feels heavy or lonely, that’s okay too.

You’re not behind.

You’re not doing it wrong.

You’re still part of this community, and you still matter more than you know.

So be a light in whatever way you can this week.

Big or small.

Quiet or bold.

Because when one light turns on, others always follow. ✨

Because of LED lights. They use about 90% less electricity than old-school bulbs, which means fewer blown fuses, lower bills, and permission to go absolutely wild with the lights.

Suddenly, lighting up the whole house feels… responsible. 😄✨

✉️ Got something to share?

Want to submit an event or spotlight your business in The 109 Online?
Hit us up at 109online@gmail.com

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Let’s keep 55109 connected. 🏡✨