Families and visitors came to admire the display, a New Ulm tradition since the 1960s. The Marti family, owners of Schell’s Brewery, have lit candles in sand-filled bags every Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The event, free to the public, invites guests to stroll through the brewery park at 1860 Schell Road.

Luminaries at Schell’s Brewery are annually on full display Christmas Eve and Christmas Day until the candles burn out.

Rachel Haala-Dent, who grew up in New Ulm, drove from St. Peter with her husband, Chuck Dent. 

The couple paused along the brick path to admire the lanterns. For Haala-Dent, the display offered a brief calm during the holiday rush.

Luminary candles nestled in sand-filled paper bags line the snowy paths at Schell’s Brewery on Christmas Eve.

“It was just a moment of peace amongst all the busyness of the season,” Haala-Dent said. “A chance to breathe a little bit and soak it all in, the simpleness of it. It kind of got you into the spirit.”

Experiencing the luminaries for the first time, Dent said the evening brought “tranquility and a reminder of why we are all here — for each other. A special night.”

The couple said they had talked about attending in past years but never made it.

“Our girls were busy this year, so we said, ‘Hey, let’s go over and check it out,'” Dent said.

For Mandy Stafford, the luminaries served as both a family outing and a birthday celebration for her husband, Sean Stafford. Mandy Stafford was born and raised in New Ulm and is part of the family behind the long-established Domeier’s German Store.

Rachel Haala-Dent and her husband Chuck Dent lean in to observe a glowing lantern along the snowy path during the Christmas Eve luminary display.

After several years in White Bear Lake, the couple moved back to New Ulm two years ago.

“I was born and raised here, but we just moved back two years ago, so this is our first time being at the luminaries,” Mandy Stafford said.

When the Stafford boys were asked why they liked visiting Schell’s, the oldest, Jack Stafford, said, “We get to run around.”

Outside Schell’s Bierhalle, Mira and Curtis Dorschner of New Ulm posed on a sleigh beside a lighted Christmas tree as families lined up for photos.

Mira and Curtis Dorschner sit in the holiday sleigh display outside Schell’s Bierhalle on Christmas Eve.

A metal deer, known as a bock in German, glows in the snow as luminaries light the grounds at Schell’s Brewery.

Jay Luker stands at the top of the stairs at the Marti house, framed by a decorated Christmas tree and glowing lanterns during Schell’s annual luminary celebration.

Luminaries glow along the grounds at Schell’s Brewery on Christmas Eve, casting warm light across the winter night in New Ulm.