Today in Minot
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Twas the Night Before Christmas
May what work remains go easy and fast and the days ahead bring all the joy of season.
Today in Minot
Today is Wednesday, December 24th, 2025. The sun will rise on the 4th day of winter and the 358th day of the year at 8:34 AM. We will see 8 hours 21 minute of daylight before it sets at 4:55 PM.
Today is: National Eggnog Day, Christmas Eve
Today’s Featured Happenings
Seasonal Sales & Celebrations
Open Xmas Eve
Wed. Dec. 24
BlueRider | Voted North Dakota’s Best Dive Bar!
Learning & Listening
126th Annual Christmas Bird Count
Sat. Dec. 27
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The cold finally has an upside. Minot’s outdoor rinks are open, the ice is thick enough to hold, and the warming houses are stocked with hot cocoa and $5 skate rentals. Whether you’re at Roosevelt Park, Polaris, Perkett, or Corbett Ballpark, the price is right: free. Downtown at Citizens Alley, kids can zip around on battery-powered bumper cars while families glide across the ice with free rentals through the holiday break. It’s the kind of simple winter fun that doesn’t need much explanation—just a coat and a couple of hours. Megan Topping with KX News has the full story on all the places you can catch some Vitamin D and fresh air this winter.
When disaster strikes, you’d think every cop, firefighter, and paramedic in the state could talk to each other. They can’t—at least not easily. Right now, North Dakota’s emergency responders operate on a patchwork of separate radio systems, and getting them to communicate often means rigging workarounds on the fly. That’s about to change. A statewide radio network is on track to go live in 2027, linking more than 900 departments through 140 towers. It’s the kind of unglamorous infrastructure that only matters when everything else goes wrong. Jack Meyer with KX News has the full story.
There are more than 200,000 places in America where roads cross railroad tracks at grade—no overpass, no tunnel, just pavement meeting rail. Last year, 263 people died at those crossings, including 117 pedestrians. A bill that just cleared a House committee would push states and railroads to work together on reducing those numbers, with federal oversight and regular progress reports. It passed unanimously, which is rare enough these days to be its own kind of news. Dan Zukowski with SmartCitiesDive has the full story.
On This Day
On this day in 1812, we were once again at peace with Great Britain. In 1865, a group of former Confederate soldiers didn’t waste time organizing an ugly interest, and in 1968 we saw pictures of the heavens for the first time. In 1908 Minot, a “first” performance of The Messiah was taking place, we were fighting for right to navigate the Souris River, the Soo Line freight depot was hosting “the” event of the winter, President Roosevelt was playing hardball with public information, morality was mixed, and it paid to buy local.
On this day in 1814, the Treaty of Ghent was signed, officially ending the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain and restoring relations between the two countries.
On this day in 1865, several former Confederate soldiers founded the Ku Klux Klan in Pulaski, Tennessee, which would become known for its campaign of terror against African Americans and others.
On this day in 1968, the crew of Apollo 8 became the first humans to orbit the Moon, sending back iconic photographs of Earth and reading from the Book of Genesis in a live broadcast to millions around the world.
Born & Died: Howard Hughes, (Born, 1905) American business magnate, aviator, and film producer, Ava Gardner, (Born, 1922) American actress and Hollywood star, Ricky Martin, (Born, 1971) Puerto Rican pop singer and actor, Mary Higgins Clark, (Born, 1927) American author known for suspense novels, William Makepeace Thackeray, (Died, 1863) British novelist best known for “Vanity Fair”, John Muir, (Died, 1914) Scottish-American naturalist and conservationist, Charles Wakefield Cadman, (Born, 1881) American composer, Peter Lawford, (Died, 1984) English-American actor and member of the “Rat Pack,” Ryan Seacrest, (Born, 1974) American television host and producer known for “American Idol.”
The announcement that the Minot Choral club will give the “Messiah” on the evening of Dec. 23rd come as welcome news to many hundreds in this city, because the oratorio has never been given in full in Minot before. Many living here have never had the opportunity of hearing a great oratorio while others will be glad to hear this work on account of its bringing up remembrances of the days of their youth when they perhaps lived in some large city and belonged to a great chorus that frequently gave the great work.
Why we published it:
The 2025 edition was commonly referred to as the 96th annual performance, but here’s a little evidence to suggest that the holiday tradition has earlier roots. Based on the language, it seems probable that this was the actual first performance. Whether it turned into an annual one or not is yet to be learned.
Since he made this unwise investment he has learned that he could have bought a similar stove at Conyers’ for $34.00, with a lot of extras included, but minus the freight. There may be some good arguments for patronizing catalogue houses—but there are more arguments in favor of home trade. It’s a whole lot safer, anyway.
Why we published it:
Our options for buying local are fewer than ever, but the reasons for doing so remain the same.
If President Roosevelt knows things about members of either house or senate, which show them unfit to represent the people, can he properly suppress such facts?
Why we published it:
And it closes with, “And if it’s accumulation has been paid for from public funds, is not the public entitled to it?” Both are are hard points to argue against.
The new freight depot that the Soo is constructing in this city will be completed by January 25th, and it will be formally opened about that time, with a social party to be given by the local Library Board. This will be for the benefit of the library and will be one of the events of the winter.
Why we published it:
Perhaps never more than now, this location is site for “the events of the winter.” And if you’re not sure what that means, you should probably check in on Citizens Alley.
Down in Nebraska several months ago, a boy was sentenced to the reform school for swearing. That sentence has lately been confirmed by the supreme court. From this it may be inferred that swearing is illegal, although laws on the matter are rarely enforced. This sentence seems a trifle hard on the boy, but it affords some food for thought for his elders; for swearing men are old enough to know better, as the boy very likely did not.
Why we published it:
Swearing could get you taken from your home and a Russian bride could marry another man, but he’d have to pay up first. This edition offered a collection of morality tales from another era, and it goes to show that our ideas of right and wrong are far from consistent in principle or application.
Olaf A. Olson, who was charged with obstructing a navigable stream, was found not guilty in district court Tuesday. Olson was defended by Paida & Burke. The case arose out of Olson’s stretching a barb wire across Mouse river west of this city last summer to interfere with pleasure boats plying up and down the stream.
Why we published it:
We drink whiskey, we fight over water — in a lot more ways than one. And if you’ve been following the current news, you know the new version of this old fight, the “Waters of the US” is still going strong.
On a Visit from St. Nicholas
“We know not to whom we are indebted for the following description of that unwearied patron of children—that homely, but delightful personification of parental kindness—Sante Claus, his costume and his equipage, as he goes about visiting the fire-sides of this happy land, laden with Christmas bounties; but from whomsoever it may have come, we give thanks for it. There is, to our apprehension, a spirit of cordial goodness in it, a playfulness of fancy, and a benevolent alacrity to enter into the feelings and promote the simple pleasures of children, which are altogether charming. We hope our little patrons, both lads and lasses, will accept it as proof of our unfeigned good will toward them—as a token of our warmest wish that they may have many a merry Christmas; that they may long retain their beautiful relish for those unbought, homebred joys, which derive their flavor from filial piety and fraternal love, and which they may be assured are the least alloyed that time can furnish them; and that they may never part with that simplicity of character, which is their own fairest ornament, and for the sake of which they have been pronounced, by the authority which none can gainsay, the types of such as shall inherit the kingdom of heaven.”
— Introduction to “Account of a Visit From St. Nicholas, Troy Sentinel, Dec. 23, 1823,
Today’s Markets
These are the commodities that move Minot’s economy. See how they’re doing here.
Upcoming Fun
Fun coming up that’s worth knowing about. Scroll for more at SavorMinot.com.
Live Music
Logan Cassell
Sat. Dec. 27
BlueRider | Voted North Dakota’s Best Dive Bar!
Let’s Celebrate!
Pie & A Pint | New Year’s Eve Special!
Wed. Dec. 31
Atypical | Stop in & Warm Up With a Great Local Beer!
Play & Participate
First Day Hike
Thu. Jan. 1
FortStevenson | Something for Everyone!
Today’s Happenings
Play & Participate
The Holiday Schedule @CitzensAlley
Mon. Dec. 22 — Sun. Dec. 28
Celebrate the holidays at Citizens Alley in Downtown Minot with ice bumper cars and FREE skate rentals from December 22 to 28, thanks to Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota. Bring your family and friends for a week full of winter fun and community cheer! #WinterFun #MinotEvents #SavorMinot
Let’s Celebrate!
Sertoma Christmas in the Park @MinotSertoma
Fri. Nov. 28 — Wed. Dec. 31
Experience the magic of the season at Sertoma Christmas in the Park, lighting up Minot’s Oak Park from November 28 through December 31. Enjoy a beautiful holiday light display perfect for family and friends, open nightly with a $5 per car admission. #MinotHolidays #ChristmasLights #SavorMinot
Monthly Features
The KOAGIE | December’s Hoagie of the Month @MagicCityHoagies
Mon. Dec. 1 — Wed. Dec. 31
Taste the bold flavors of December’s Hoagie of the Month at Magic City Hoagies—The KOAGIE, a Korean BBQ roast beef hoagie loaded with cheddar, kimchi slaw, and garlic Sriracha aioli. Celebrate the season with this fresh, flavorful sandwich available all month long in downtown Minot! #HoagieLove #MinotEats #SavorMinot
“Hot, New, Fresh”
On Tap Right Now! @Atypical
Tue. Dec. 23 — Sun. Dec. 28
Discover the latest brews on tap at Atypical Brewery & Barrelworks, featuring award-winning barrel-aged beers, live music, and delicious food trucks in downtown Minot. Join the fun from December 23 to 28 and taste what’s fresh and hot right now! #CraftBeer #MinotEats #SavorMinot
Seasonal Sales & Celebrations
Open Xmas Eve @BlueRider
Wed. Dec. 24
Keep the tradition alive this Christmas Eve at Blue Rider, your go-to dive bar in downtown Minot. Enjoy stiff drinks and free popcorn while celebrating the season with us on December 24th! #ChristmasEve #DiveBarVibes #SavorMinot
