Santa's Bobbin' Into Town: Pequot Lakes' Holiday Tradition

What does Pequot Lakes do for the holidays? It turns Trailside Park into a winter gathering place for Santa's Bobbin' Into Town, the town's free holiday celebration organized by Community Action of Pequot Lakes. The 2025 edition ran Saturday, December 13, and the 15th annual celebration is set for Saturday, December 12, 2026. For a small lake town, it is a big night: a lighted parade, fireworks over the park, live reindeer, and the lighting of the Mayor's Tree.

What Happens at Trailside Park

The Mayor's Tree lighting: a roughly 32-foot tree near the bandshell, wrapped in about 2,000 feet of lights, is lit as part of the evening's celebration.

Bonfires, cocoa, and caroling: bonfires with hot cocoa and s'mores, hosted by the Miss Pequot Lakes royalty, keep the park warm while families sing along.

Reindeer and wagon rides: Santa's live reindeer visit the park, and free horse and wagon rides carry families around the downtown area.

The kids' bobber hunt: fishing bobbers hidden around the park for kids to find, a fitting nod to the town that claims the world's largest bobber, which we cover in our Pequot Lakes and the Paul Bunyan State Trail guide.

Jingles the Elf and more: balloon animals, a photo booth, and snow-art activities fill out the park, and photos with Santa plus dinner at the American Legion are part of the evening for many families.

The Light Up the Night Parade

Decorated floats with lights roll through downtown competing for the traveling Santa Bobblehead Trophy, and fireworks close the celebration over Trailside Park. The 2025 edition also added a food drive for the Lakes Area Food Shelf, a small example of how the town strings its traditions together.

Why It Matters Alongside School and Family Life

Pequot Lakes is a family-first community, anchored by a strong school district we profile in our guide to ISD 186, and the holiday celebration could not happen without the volunteers behind it. If you are considering a year-round home here rather than a seasonal cabin, the December calendar tells you a lot: the community does not shut down when the snow falls, it gathers. That is one of the reasons winter is worth taking seriously as a buying season in the Brainerd Lakes Area.

The Bottom Line

Mark the second Saturday of December down as Pequot Lakes at its most itself: a lighted parade, a tree full of lights, reindeer on a snowy park, and fireworks over Trailside Park. The current year's date and full schedule are posted on the city's pages as December approaches. If a community like this sounds like home, schedule a conversation and we will talk about the Pequot Lakes market. Cheers!