Pella, Iowa
Celebrate Dutch heritage and history with a walk through 20 buildings of the Pella Historical Village through Dec. 29. The village includes the Vermeer Mill, Maria's tea room and more. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mon.-Fri, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sat.; closed Sunday and holidays. Special hours Dec. 24: 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $2 for students (pellahistorical.com).
Grand Marais, Minn.
Mushers and spectators are invited to the Gunflint Mail Run Sled Dog Race, Jan. 5-6 along the historic Gunflint Trail. The 100-mile race for 12-dog teams will start around 8 a.m. and the 65-mile race for eight-dog teams will begin at 9 a.m. Registration will close at 3 p.m. Jan. 4 (or earlier if 30 total teams are reached), and visitors can watch the start and end of the race at the Trail Center Lodge or check out teams at turnaround spots. Also, sledding fans can sign up in advance for guided dog sled treks during the festival and other times (gunflintmail.com).
La Crosse, Wis.
The 24th annual Rotary Holiday Lights display, featuring more than 3 million lights, continues at Riverside Park through Dec. 31. Visitors can drive or walk through the park to see a 140-foot-tall Christmas tree. A live Nativity will be held today, Sat. and next Sun. Santa and live reindeer will be in the park from 5-8 p.m. daily through Sunday before heading back to the North Pole. Carriage rides will be offered on select days through Dec. 30 and an ecumenical service will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve (rotarylights.org).
Colleen A. Coles