Three nights at the end of the semester line up in a way that does not happen often. On Friday, Dec. 18, the Timberwolves host the Lakers at Target Center. On Saturday, Dec. 19, the arena hosts AEW Worlds End, a wrestling pay-per-view that is coming to the Twin Cities for the first time. On Sunday, Dec. 20, for KING + COUNTRY brings its Christmas tour to the same building. If you are building a December weekend around any one of them, the smart move is to book your room now, and we would love it to be at 300 Clifton.
What is happening at Target Center, Dec. 18–20?
The dates and start times below come from the Target Center events calendar, checked on Oct. 18.
Friday, Dec. 18, 7:00 p.m.: Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Los Angeles Lakers. The Wolves are in the middle of a busy home stretch this winter, which we covered in our post on the Timberwolves homestand and Christmas Day game.
Saturday, Dec. 19, 6:00 p.m.: AEW Worlds End. Wrestling Inc. reports this is the first Worlds End held in the Twin Cities and AEW’s first return to Target Center since a Dynamite taping in November 2023; tickets went on sale Oct. 5. Read their announcement summary for the details.
Sunday, Dec. 20, 7:00 p.m.: for KING + COUNTRY, “A Drummer Boy Christmas.” The arena’s own announcement lists the 7 p.m. start and tickets through AXS and the band’s site.
Why stack these into one weekend at 300 Clifton?
Because a three-night stay is easier than three separate trips. A Friday basketball crowd, a Saturday pay-per-view crowd and a Sunday family Christmas show all want the same thing: a calm place to land downtown. 300 Clifton sits in Loring Park, and the Metro Transit trip planner will give you current routes to Target Center on the day, so you can leave the car parked. We would rather not promise a walking time we have not clocked ourselves.
Pick the evening you want and book the others as buffers. Come in Thursday for a quiet night before the Wolves game, or stay Sunday and head home Monday after the Christmas show instead of driving in the dark.
Where do you sleep, and what do you come home to?
300 Clifton is the historic Eugene J. Carpenter Mansion, a National Register house with Georgian architecture, hand-painted murals and carved fireplaces. The rooms are all different, so browse the Crystal Mansion, the Georgian Room, the Grand Edwardian and the Hayloft and choose the one that fits your crew.
After a loud arena, the best part of December is the four-season garden hot tub. A soak under a winter sky is hard to beat. If the Sunday show is a family outing, the movie room is another way to wind down after a big night.
Book direct and every stay includes a $20 dining voucher at the Pillsbury Club and a $20 Minneapolis Trolley voucher. Check the current terms on our vouchers page before you book, since they are per stay and apply to direct bookings.
Plan the rest of the December weekend
If you have extra time, we have already mapped the month. See Trans-Siberian Orchestra on Dec. 27, the Target Center concerts in November and our guide to Christmas mansion tours. Most of these sell the best rooms first, and a Friday-to-Sunday run on Dec. 18–20 is exactly that kind of weekend.
Ready to lock in a room? Visit 300 Clifton and book direct. Then pick your night, bring your coat and we will see you in December.
Keep reading: Where Should You Stay for Home Alone in Concert With the Minnesota Orchestra? Dec. 11–13 at Orchestra Hall.