Lowertown St. Paul, from Union Depot up to the St. Paul Saints ballpark, has the holidays going on this month. It all starts Friday, Dec. 6, with the opening of the sixth annual European Christmas Market, the lighting of the giant tree at the depot and the launch of Destination Winter St. Paul, which brings WinterSkate and the SuperSlide to CHS Field.

You should be able to catch both opening events. From 5 to 5:30 p.m., there will be a small fireworks show, an ice skating performance and the “ushertainers” and Saints mascot Mudonna will be at the ballpark. Then head on over to the depot, where the annual tree lighting is at 6:30 p.m., followed by free showings of “Elf” and “Polar Express.”

Christmas Market and Hub for the Holidays

The European Christmas Market at St. Paul’s Union Depot isn’t bigger this year, but it has expanded. The number of vendors at the market, which is modeled after the Christkindlmarkts in Germany, Austria and other European countries, is the same as last year (35), but the wooden kiosks where they sell their goods will be rearranged to improve the flow of visitors, said Renate Sharp, who founded the market, which was set up for its first year on Seventh Street Place downtown. That first year, there were just 12 kiosks.

Vendors sell handmade items from local crafters and artisans. There is European-inspired food, German beer and gluhwein (hot spiced wine). There are two warming tents and outdoor firepits, with entertainment including carolers, dancers and a visit from Minnesota Krampus (Austrian folklore characters).

Live reindeer will visit again, and this year’s European Market will add dog sleds and donkey sleighs on the plaza area near the train tracks, where the North Pole Express will embark for Santa’s Workshop (set up just a ways down the track). For a list of all of the vendors and the entertainment schedule, go to stpaulchristmasmarket.org.

The European Christmas Market will be open Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Sundays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. through Dec. 22.

The North Pole Express runs on weekends through Dec. 15, but only a handful of single tickets each day remain. Check 261.com/npe for details.

On Tuesday, the dazzlingly lighted Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is expected to come rolling into Union Depot at about 6:45 p.m. for a 30-minute holiday musical performance featuring three Canadians, country singers Meghan Patrick and Kelly Prescott and R&B vocalist Tanika Charles. The concert is free, but folks who go are asked to bring cash or a heart-healthy food donation for Merrick Community Services. VIP tickets with access to preferred seating are available for $10 (cptrain2019.eventbrite.com) with all proceeds going to Merrick. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train’s unique mission aims to fight against hunger. This program spreads awareness of the issue while providing a fun and engaging way for the public to help give back. The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train has raised more than $11 million and collected 4.5 million pounds of food since its start in 1999.

Festivities inside the depot during the season include a Holiday Bake Sale on Dec. 14.

For info: uniondepot.org.

Destination Winter St. Paul

If you’ve been looking for the WinterSkate rink, which has been set up in the shadow of Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul since 2005, look toward Lowertown. The chilled outdoor ice rink has moved to inside CHS Field. It’s part of Destination Winter St. Paul, three months of festivities in and around the St. Paul Saints ballpark.

Open skate hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. Access to the rink is free, skates can be rented in the visitors’ clubhouse for $5 or free with a Wells Fargo debit or credit card. There are skating lessons available. For info: visitsaintpaul.com.

Next to WinterSkate, the giant SuperSlide that was set up for St. Paul festivities during the Super Bowl two years ago will return to CHS, stretching from the second-story patio to the infield. The side-by-side wooden chutes start 40 feet above the field on the second story patio of the Securian Financial Club and plunge innertube riders downward over the seating bowl as they “slide” in toward second base. Tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for children younger than 12 for unlimited slides during a one-hour time slot. They can be purchased in person by visiting the CHS Field ticket office, over the phone by calling 651-644-6659 or online at saintsbaseball.com.

Destination Winter St. Paul is going to wrap up on Feb. 22 with The Greatest Day Parade, which honors the gold-medal-winning 1980 U.S. Olympic men’s hockey team 40 years to the day of their unforgettable victory over the Soviet Union in Lake Placid, N.Y.