Dayton’s Eighth Floor Holiday Show Through the Years

Article by Michael Rainville, Jr.

Winter in Minneapolis can be a struggle sometimes. Vehicles take forever to warm up, if we don’t shuffle our feet, we might slip on ice, and snow mounds become some of the tallest structures in the city. However, throughout the years as the winter solstice passes and the days get longer, there has been a ray of light at the end of this dark, frigid tunnel: The Dayton’s Eighth Floor Holiday Show.

Originally called the “Christmas Show,” from 1963 through 2016, the eighth floor of the old Dayton’s building was the most magical place in the Twin Cities. The Dayton’s wanted their department store to be more than just a store. They wanted to be a pillar of the community, so they offered a wide variety of merchandise that most stores didn’t, they’ve supported many charities through the Dayton’s Foundation, and they offered many forms of entertainment, from flower exhibitions to fashion shows.

The Holiday Show started out by having a different theme every year, such as The Grinch, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, and even Harry Potter. Starting in 2008 until the last show in 2016, the theme was the same; A Day in the Life of an Elf, with the opportunity to meet and take a photo with Santa Claus himself. Children and adults alike would be filled with wonder and amazement as they walked through the animatronic show and live the many stories that have passed through the eighth floor auditorium.

While the holiday shows have stopped, the many memories are alive and well thanks to the Minnesota Historical Society’s Dayton's Downtown Minneapolis department store event files collection. Take a trip down memory lane and enjoy these select photos:

1982, Pippi Longstocking

1985, The Velveteen Rabbit

1988, The Polar Express

1989, Cinderella

1991, model of floor layout for Pinocchio

1997, The Nutcracker

1998, exhibition model for The Grinch

2000, Harry Potter

2006, gift store for Mary Poppins

2008, setting up for A Day in the Life of an Elf

Photo credit: Holiday compilation photographs, 1977-2008. Macy's (Firm). Dayton's downtown Minneapolis department store event files. Minnesota Historical Society.

Here is the complete list of shows:

1963: Santa’s Enchanted Forest
1964: Land of Trolls
1965: Nameless, animated animals preparing for Christmas
1966: Dickens’ London Towne
1967: Dickens’ Village
1968: Under the Giant Christmas Tree
1969: Peter Pan
1970: Santa’s Toy Workshop
1971: Santa’s TV Studio
1972: Joy to the World
1973: Nutcracker
1974: Grandma Moses’ “Christmas in the Country”
1975: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
1976: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
1977: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1978: Once Upon a Christmastime
1979: Babes in Toyland
1980: Alice’s Wonderland Christmas
1981: Hansel and Gretel
1982: Pippi Longstocking
1983: Babar and Father Christmas
1984: Animalen, “The Peaceable Kingdom”
1985: The Velveteen Rabbit
1986: Santabear’s First Christmas
1987: Santabear’s High-Flying Adventures
1988: The Polar Express
1989: Cinderella
1990: Peter Pan
1991: Pinocchio
1992: Puss in Boots
1993: Beauty and the Beast
1994: The Wizard of Oz
1995: The Wind in the Willows
1996: A Christmas Carol
1997: Nutcracker
1998: How the Grinch Stole Christmas
1999: The 12 Days of Christmas
2000: Harry Potter
2001: ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas
2002: Paddington Bear and the Christmas Surprise
2003: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
2004: Snow White
2005: Cinderella
2006: Mary Poppins
2007: Nutcracker
2008-2016: A Day in the Life of an Elf

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