Family spotlight: 'Hill House Holidays,' Holiday Open Haus

Experience the excitement of a Gilded Age Christmas as costumed actors portray the servants of the Hill House. With a script based on letters and oral histories of those who worked for the Hill family during the first decade of the 20th century, the one-hour program that moves through the elegant first-floor spaces and then to the basement servant work areas. (1-3:30 p.m. Sat.-next Sun. $6-$10. James J. Hill House, 240 Summit Av., St. Paul. 651-297-2555. www.mnhs.org.)

Nikolaustag will be dressed in his finest holiday garments to greet good little boys and girls and hear their toy wishes. The decorated haus features live piano music and tours. Shop for German gift items and enjoy refreshments. (11 a.m.-4 p.m. next Sun. Free. Germanic-American Institute, 301 Summit Av., St. Paul. 651-222-7027. www.gai-mn.org.)