An all-new Christmas experience and indoor light park is set to open in Rochester this winter.

Northern Lights Festival is the brain-child of Mitch Reaume. He's been dreaming of creating a full-blown winter festival for years and putting a city on the map as a winter festival destination. With the help of some major partners -- including Experience Rochester and the Mayo Civic Center -- that pipedream will finally become a reality this winter. The Northern Lights Festival is being hailed as "The North's Largest Indoor Light Park."

Proudly anchored at Rochester's Mayo Civic Center, the Northern Lights Festival will be a fully immersive, winter experience fun for all ages. Food and drink, a 25,000+ sq. ft. light park, shopping in the Mini MN Christmas Market, photo ops, and make-and-take experiences are just some of the features and attractions visitors will get to enjoy.

"Our light park is a self-guided experience full of photo ops, immersive experiences, and interactive elements," reads the Northern Lights Festival website. "Rumor has it that Santa might even make an appearance or two."

The Mini MN Christmas Market will feature 8-12 local brands to shop and support. The full MN Christmas Market with over 50 Minnesota small businesses will be set up in Rochester on November 13 (click here to see additional dates and locations in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth). Seven percent of all shopping proceeds will go towards Northern Lights Festival's charity for the year, The Reel Hope Project which creates videos for Minnesota kids waiting to be adopted.

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On December 17th Platinum Recording Artist and Songwriter Michael Shynes will be joined by Violin Virtuoso David Gerald Sutton for a night of Christmas songs. Tickets for the Northern Lights Festival and Michael Shynes/David Gerald Sutton concert will be required and available to purchase here.

The Northern Lights Festival will run Thursdays through Sundays December 2-19.