Hennepin Avenue turns festive in December, and two very different holiday nights are headed to the Pantages Theatre: The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show on Tuesday, Dec. 8, and The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical on Monday, Dec. 14 and Tuesday, Dec. 15. If you are coming in from out of town, here is a place to stay that feels like part of the occasion.
That place is 300 Clifton, the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion in Loring Park, a boutique bed and breakfast with Georgian architecture, carved fireplaces, English gardens and a four-season garden hot tub. The Pantages is at 710 Hennepin Ave. in downtown Minneapolis, so you can leave the car parked and plan your trip with the Metro Transit trip planner.
The Jinkx & DeLa Holiday Show: Tuesday, Dec. 8
Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme are bringing their holiday show on a North American tour for 2026, and The Queer Review’s tour announcement lists the Minneapolis stop as Dec. 8, 2026, at the Pantages Theatre. The tour list includes no other Minnesota dates, so this is the one shot for local fans and anyone willing to drive in.
Because it falls on a Tuesday, it is an easy one to turn into a two-night getaway: arrive Monday, enjoy the show Tuesday, and head home Wednesday without a rush.
The Unauthorized Hallmark(ish) Parody Musical: Dec. 14 and 15
A week later the Pantages hosts a parody of the cheerfully predictable holiday movie. According to the Hennepin Arts announcement, it plays Monday, Dec. 14 and Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2026, both nights at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are sold through the State Theatre box office (805 Hennepin Ave.) and HennepinArts.org. The announcement does not list an age recommendation, so check the event page before bringing children.
Both of these are weeknight shows, which makes them a good fit for a midweek escape. Our rooms tend to be easier to find on a Monday or Tuesday than on a December Saturday.
Why stay at 300 Clifton for a Hennepin Avenue show night
The mansion has distinct guest rooms, from the Crystal Mansion to the Grand Edwardian, and after the curtain you can end the night in the garden hot tub under the stars, which is a very good answer to a cold December evening. Prefer something cozier? Gertrude’s Cistern, our speakeasy and haunted video lounge with heated reclining seats, is a fun way to keep the evening going.
Guests who book direct also receive vouchers: a $20 Pillsbury Club dining voucher per stay and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher per stay. Details are on our vouchers page. The Pillsbury Club requires a reservation, so plan ahead for a pre-show dinner, and the holiday lights trolley ride pairs nicely with a December theater trip.
Plan it now
December is already filling with holiday events. If you are building a bigger trip, our guide to Cirque Dreams Holidaze at the Orpheum, Dec. 22–24 covers another Hennepin Avenue holiday show. Staying a few nights downtown? Oakland’s on 9th offers furnished studios by the night, week or month.
Ready to book the mansion for your show night? Reserve direct on the 300 Clifton website and we will see you in Loring Park.
Keep reading: Where Can You Go Ice Skating Near Downtown Minneapolis? A Winter Guide From a Mansion in Loring Park