See all posts in the Mayor & Cities Corner series
(Chanhassen Corner is a regular feature where Chanhassen officials and various staff and contributors will share updates, insights, and messages with their communities. Chanhassen Communications Manager, Patrick Gavin is providing the current edition.)
As winter settles in and the holidays approach, Chanhassen is bustling with seasonal traditions, new city services and important City Council work. Here’s a look at what’s happening around town this month.
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
Winter Holiday Events
Get ready for the holiday season! The holiday season is just around the corner and so are the City of Chanhassen’s annual holiday events.
- Nov. 17–Dec. 12 – Toys for Tots: Every year, the Chanhassen Fire Department collects thousands of toys for children on behalf of Toys for Tots. Bring your donations to one of three city locations to make a child’s holiday dreams come true. Learn more and see drop-off locations.
- Dec. 2–4 – Gingerbread House Decorating Contest: Join us for the annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest.
- Dec. 6, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. – Holiday Market: Stop by the Holiday Market (formerly the Holiday Boutique) at the Chanhassen Recreation Center for handcrafted arts and crafts, jewelry, collectibles, food items, home décor, toys and more.
- Dec. 6, starting at 5 p.m. – Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony: Enjoy bonfires, treats, s’mores, carolers, live reindeer, a special visit from Santa and the annual lighting of Chanhassen’s holiday lights. Due to Civic Campus construction, this year’s ceremony, Santa’s Workshop and Santa’s Mailbox will be held at the Chanhassen Recreation Center and will return to City Center Park in 2026. Event details.
- Dec. 6–31, 5–9 p.m. – Tour of Lights: Bring joy to Chanhassen by registering your home’s holiday display to be part of the Tour of Lights driving tour.
For more information on any of these holiday events, visit the city’s Holiday Events page.
Food Drive Extended
Thank you to everyone who brought canned goods to the recent City Hall open house—your donations helped stock local food shelves and support families in need. Donation bins will remain in the City Hall lobby throughout the holiday season, so if you’re stopping by for a meeting, event or errand, please consider bringing a nonperishable item.
For more information, including the most-needed items, visit the Food Drive news update.
Kids’ Night at the Rec Center
Kids, leave your parents at home! Children ages 4–10 can enjoy a fun evening of gym games, crafts, a movie and a pizza dinner at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. Check-in begins at 5 p.m., the program starts at 5:30 p.m. and pickup is at 8:30 p.m.; children must be out of diapers to participate. Find dates, fees and registration details on the Kids Night activity page.
Winter Punch Card Sale
The Chanhassen Recreation Center is holding its annual Winter Punch Card Sale from Dec. 1–31. Buy a 40-punch card and receive a 10-punch card free. For more information on punch cards and Rec Center amenities, visit the Recreation Center page.
Annual 55+ Holiday Celebration
Celebrate the season at the annual 55+ Holiday Celebration on Thursday, Dec. 12, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. at the Chanhassen Recreation Center. Enjoy a homemade buffet lunch from Chef Doug followed by holiday music and favorites performed by local duo Dan Everson and Carlie Madison; cost is $15 for residents and $17 for non-residents, with a registration deadline of Dec. 3.
Holiday Closures
City offices will be closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
CITY NEWS AND SERVICES
Community AED Now Available
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) save lives, and they are now easier to access for community gatherings. Residents can reserve lightweight, easy-to-use Avive AEDs from the Chanhassen Fire Department for sporting events, reunions, picnics or other activities, with units due back within three days of the event. Reserve an AED via the online form and learn more on the fire department’s Community Risk Reduction page.
Carver County Environmental Center Coupon
Thanks to a Carver County grant, Chanhassen residents can receive a $20 coupon toward recycling materials at the Carver County Environmental Center once per year. The coupon can be used on items such as microwaves, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, televisions, tires and even a significant portion of mattress disposal costs; extra coupons are available this year at the City Hall front desk. For eligibility and accepted materials, see the Environmental Center coupon news item.
New City Hall and Senior Center Highlights
Thank you to everyone who toured the new City Hall at the public open house and joined the Senior Center welcoming party—the enthusiasm and community pride helped make both events memorable. If you missed them or want to revisit the experience, you can view Open House photos, see the Senior Center Welcoming Party album or take a virtual video tour of City Hall.
For more background, read Ten Things to Know About the New City Hall, which answers many of the questions that came up during tours. You can also watch a behind-the-scenes look at rooftop solar panel installation, which will help offset roughly a quarter of the building’s electricity use. And this is just the beginning: Phase II of the Civic Campus project is underway and will add a new park, playground, event lawn and community gathering areas to complete the full vision for the site.
Adopt-a-Siren Program
The Adopt-a-Siren program invites residents to help monitor the city’s nine outdoor warning sirens, which are tested at 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Volunteers spend about five minutes during the monthly test confirming that their assigned siren is operating correctly, supporting a critical part of Chanhassen’s emergency response system. Program perks include recognition at a City Council meeting, an annual feature in Chanhassen Connection or a city news article, limited-edition Fire Department swag and an annual BBQ for adopters and their families. To volunteer, visit the Adopt-a-Siren program page and complete the interest form.
Heart of Chanhassen Photo Contest
The annual Heart of Chanhassen Photo Contest highlights what makes life in Chanhassen unique and special, showcasing resident-submitted photos of local people, places and moments. Learn how to enter and view previous winners on the contest page.
Buckthorn Awareness
Because buckthorn often keeps its leaves longer into winter than many native plants, late fall and early winter are ideal times to identify and mark it for future removal. By spotting buckthorn now and planning removal projects, residents help slow the spread of this invasive species.
Find identification tips and management resources on the city’s buckthorn and invasive plants page and related news update.
