The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum announces "Making Spirits Bright," a holiday season brimming with merriment, music and make-believe. Visitors will find 12 spectacular storybook-themed decorated trees, surrounded by storytime seating, in the Oswald Visitor Center and Snyder Building. Santa also will be on hand! The whimsical art of Dr. Seuss in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will inspire a display of holiday-themed gingerbread creations. All that and much more! The fun begins Friday, Nov. 25, and runs through Jan. 1. Here's a lineup:

Storytime by the Trees. Sit down with the kids by your favorite tree and listen as the elves and helpers tell your favorite holiday stories. Storytimes: 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Dates: Nov. 25-27; Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18; and Dec. 26-31.

Pictures with Santa. Gather the little ones for a visit with Santa Claus and have their photo taken with LiliPhoto. ($5 per photo). Dec. 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18, times: 10:30 a.m.-noon & 12:30-2 p.m., Arboretum Restaurant (by the fireplace).

Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides. Enjoy an old-fashioned horse-drawn wagon ride from the Oswald Visitor Center to the Learning Center and back. Dates and times: Dec. 4, 10, 11; every 15 minutes from 1 to 4 p.m. Fee: $3.

Walks for the Curious: Hot Chocolate Walks. Dec. 17 & 28; 10-11:30 a.m.; $7.50 member/$15 non-member. Explore outdoors with an Arboretum naturalist. Departs from Oswald Visitor Center. Register here.

Traditional Holiday Teas. Sat., Nov. 26; Wed., Nov. 30, Thurs.-Sun., Dec. 1-4; Wed.-Sun., Dec. 7-11; Wed.-Fri., Dec. 14-23; and Tues.-Fri., Dec. 27-30. Snyder Building Tea Room. Share holiday joy at these formal teas complete with freshly baked sweets and savories, plus an English trifle. $23 member/$26 non-member, plus tax. 612-626-3951 or click here.

Auxiliary Holiday Sale Preview Event, Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m., Snyder Building Lobby & Auditorium. Avoid the crowds and be the first to preview and purchase at the Auxiliary Holiday Sale. Enjoy wine and hors d'oeuvres. $25 per person. Reservations required.  Call 952-625-9865.

Holiday Sale Weekend: Dec. 3 & 4. The Arboretum is a shopper's destination on Dec. 3 & 4, when several wonderful sales are happening. Check out the Auxiliary Holiday Sale (9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday & noon -5 p.m. Sunday in Snyder Bldg.) where you can shop for one-of-a-kind natural treasures, floral arrangements, wreaths, ornaments, textile arts and more. Or shop for handcrafted herbal gifts at the Minnesota Herb Society Sale in the Visitor Center. And the Art and Photography Exhibit and Sale, presented by Tamron and National Camera Exchange, is in MacMillan Auditorium. For those "hard-to-buy-for" folks on your gift list, consider giving the gift of an Arboretum membership (or call 952-443-1440), a gift that keeps on giving! Receive an eye-catching wall calendar with every gift membership you purchase.

Holiday Kids' Shop. Nov. 25-Jan. 1, weekends only. Tucked inside the Visitor Center, there is a special place where kids can shop for gifts for mom and dad. Gift wrapping too! No grown-ups allowed! Purchase vouchers in the Gift Store, then kids can proceed to the Kids' Shop in the Teaching Classroom, second floor of the Visitor Center.

Weekend Family Fun: Drop in every Saturday and Sunday at the Learning Center year-round for free, hands-on family activities designed for your family to do together at your own pace. Every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. In November, it's "Buckthorn Bust" (Join the brigade to dig out villainous buckthorn.) In December, the theme is "Gifts from the Bees." Free with gate admission.

Family Holiday Breakfast. Saturday, Dec. 10, 9-11 a.m. Festive breakfast brunch. $13.99/$16.99. Ages 10 & under, $6.99. Reserve at 612-626-3951 or click here.

Globe ice lantern demos in the Gift Store and outdoor terrace on Saturday, Dec. 10 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., featuring ice wrangler Jennifer Hedberg of Wintercraft. (Wintercraft is a local company that offers do-it-yourself kits along with custom winterscaping installations.)

CANCELLED: Holiday Craft Workshops: Gingerbread Cookie Decorating. Due to unforeseen circumstances, this workshop has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Holiday Gourmet Dinner. Friday, Dec. 16, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Appetizers and multi-course holiday dinner with wine pairings. $65 / $70. Reserve at 612-626-3951 or click here.

Holiday Live Music. Special highlight: Take part in a "sing-along" to Handel's "Messiah" classic with the Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, Dec. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the MacMillan Auditorium. Here's a complete line-up of music offerings:

• Holiday Heralds of the Minnesota Chorale, Saturday, Nov. 26, 1:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-3 p.m.
• Twin Cities Bronze Handbells Concert, Sunday, Nov. 27, 1-2:30 p.m., MacMillan Auditorium.
• Minnetonka Chamber Choir, Saturday, Dec. 3, 11-11:30 a.m. and noon-12:30 p.m.
• Celebration Brass, Saturday, Dec. 3, 1:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-3 p.m.
• F Sharp Keyboard Duo - Gigi and Freya, Sunday, Dec. 4, 11:30 a.m. -noon and 12:30-1 p.m.
• OVation, Sunday, Dec. 4, 1:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-3 p.m.
• Minnetonka Choral Society, Saturday, Dec. 10, 11-11:30 a.m. and noon-12:30 p.m.
• Minnetonka Symphony Orchestra presents a sing-along 'Messiah', Saturday, Dec. 10, 2-4 p.m.
• Arbor Bells. Saturday, Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Holiday Heralds of the Minnesota Chorale, Saturday, Dec. 17, 1:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-3 p.m.
• Waconia High School Select Chamber Choir, Sunday, Dec. 28, 1:30-2 p.m. and 2:30-3 p.m.

Arboretum Outdoors with Hoigaard's, Dec. 30, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Oswald Visitor Center. Try snowshoes and Nordic walking, with equipment compliments of Hoigaard's. Free lessons!

Ar-brrr-etum. Saturday, Dec. 31. Free admission for skiers and snowshoers all day.

The Arboretum has more than 10 miles of cross-country ski trails and 3-plus miles of snowshoe trails. Snowshow rentals are available at the Visitor Center Information desk.