Holiday cheer is here at Mall of America®
The MOA Elves are back for a season of jolly festivities and events
BLOOMINGTON, MN— November 1, 2022
The holiday season is upon us, and it takes a village to make Mall of America® merry and bright. Lucky for us, the MOA Elves have returned for another season of magic. From decorations, recommendations, and one-of-a-kind experiences, the Elves are here to ELFevate your trip to the Mall. Beginning November 1, festive surprises and cheer await around every corner with family activities, community events, deals and steals, and more.
To kick off the jolly season, the Elves have crafted a guide for all things Holiday at MOA:
Holiday Mall Hours (beginning Thanksgiving Day):
Thanksgiving Day: CLOSED
Black Friday: 7 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Thursday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday: 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Sunday, December 18 the Mall will be open 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.)
Monday - Wednesday: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Christmas Eve: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Christmas Day: CLOSED
New Year’s Eve: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
New Year’s Day: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Deck the halls: November 11 and November 21 - 23
Throughout November, the MOA Elves prepare larger-than-life holiday decor to set the stage for the holiday season. Holiday lights will be turned on November 11 and the giant Christmas trees will be installed November 21 – 23 in the Huntington® Bank Rotunda. Capturing the MOA Elves decorating for the holidays offers fantastic photo and video opportunities. Here is a look at the holiday decor at Mall of America by the numbers:
- Two 44-foot-tall trees sit in the Huntington Bank Rotunda as a photo opportunity for guests and a backdrop for many holiday events.
- Each tree has 385 branches and 32,000 LED bulbs.
- In each court space of the Mall, oversized ornaments weighing 200-300 pounds each take a full hour to hang.
- Nearly 5,000 strands of lights are hung to make the shopping avenues sparkle.
- 500 decorative trees and 3,500 poinsettias are used to decorate common areas and event spaces.
- Seven 11-foot-tall nutcrackers greet guests in the Mall’s North entrance.
- Throughout the Mall, guests can take photos with larger-than-life toy installations including a View Finder, Rocket Ship, Robot and Toy Car.
Santa Claus is comin’ to town:
Santa Claus has departed the North Pole on his sleigh and is set to arrive at Mall of America in the coming weeks. He is thrilled to meet with millions of guests from near and far. Guests can meet Santa one of two ways:
- Candy Cane Institute: November 25 – December 24
The Elf-run, Santa-approved ‘holiday research lab’ is back for the third season beginning November 25. Santa’s top team of Elves have set up Candy Cane Institute at Mall of America (171 Central Parkway) to find the true meaning of the holiday season, but they can’t do it without you! Find out what merry mischief the Elves are getting into as they take you on an interactive tour through Candy Cane Institute. Plus, if you are lucky, you might even see Santa checking in on his Elves. Tickets can be purchased online or at the door. The cost for the holiday experience is $5 + tax per person. To learn more visit, mallofamerica.com/holiday.
- The Santa Experience: November 19 – December 24
Beginning November 2, guests can schedule an appointment to visit with Santa in an intimate setting. Visit www.thesantaexperiencemn.com to book an appointment.
Black Friday: Nov 25
Mall of America looks forward to welcoming thousands of guests back for the ultimate Black Friday experience on November 25. The largest retail and entertainment complex will open its doors at 7 a.m. for enthusiastic shoppers seeking deals from brands around the property as well as opportunities for Black Friday prizes + festive performances in the Huntington Bank Rotunda. Potential prizes include:
- Mystery Scratch Off’s: 4,000 Mystery Scratch Off’s will be given to guests as they enter Mall of America at the North Atrium. Guests will scratch to find out what they won. Prizes valued up to $600.
- Holiday gift cards: The first 200 people in line to enter the Mall on Black Friday morning will receive Mall of America gift cards valued up $500.
Holiday Savings:
The MOA Holiday Rewards program is back by popular demand! Guests who shop, dine, or play at any Mall of America retailer, restaurant or attraction throughout the holiday season can submit their receipts and learn more via mallofamerica.com/rewards. For every $250 in receipts, guests can qualify for up to 4 rewards. Guests can earn the following rewards:
- Nickelodeon Universe 2-hour unlimited ride wristband
- Moose Mountain Adventure Golf tickets
- Rock of Ages Blacklight Mini Golf tickets
- Sea Life tickets
- Crayola Experience tickets
- Donate their earned rewards to Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities
In addition to Holiday Reward earnings, gift shopping has been made easier this year with an official Mall of America gift guide. The Elves have partnered with tenants to curate the hottest gifts of the season with spending in mind. The MOA Gift Guide will launch on November 14 featuring gifts under $250, $100, $50, and $25.
Other Holiday Events:
- Salvation Army Red Kettles: Friday, November 11 - Saturday, December 24
- Festival of Trees: Wednesday, November 16 - Saturday, December 31
- Holiday Art Fair: Saturday, November 19 - Sunday, November 20
- Walk to End Hunger: Thursday, November 24
- Pet Photos with Santa: Every Sunday, November 27 - December 18
- KOOL 108 Live Broadcasts: Monday, November 28 - Friday, December 23
- Holiday Music Festival: Monday, December 5 - Friday, December 23
- Clouds Choir 10th Anniversary: Friday, December 9
- Catholic Charities Giving Tree: Saturday, December 17 - Sunday, December 18
- New Year’s Eve Moonlight Circus: Saturday, December 31
Visit mallofamerica.com/holiday for more information.
ABOUT MALL OF AMERICA
At 5.6 million square feet, Mall of America is the largest shopping and entertainment complex in North America with more than 520 world-class retail stores and restaurants; Nickelodeon Universe, a 7-acre indoor theme park; SEA LIFE Minnesota Aquarium; FlyOver America; and more. The Mall opened in 1992 and is located in Bloomington, Minn., minutes from downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul and adjacent to the MSP International Airport. Follow Mall of America on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Download the Mall of America app from the App Store for iOS or Google Play for Android.
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