Minnesota's Best Winter Events
Minnesota's Best Winter Events
By Caitlin Hannah
The following is a breakdown of the best events happening throughout Minnesota this winter. Check out more seasonal trip ideas, our entire festivals and events calendar, and quarterly surveys of our theater and music scenes.
DECEMBER 2024
Northfield's annual Winter Walk event
WWE Smackdown
Minneapolis
Dec 6
See your favorite WWE wrestlers in the ring live at Target Center.
Winterfest
Luverne
Dec 6 - 8
Find handmade gifts at the craft show and take in performances at the historic Palace Theatre in southern Luverne the first weekend in December.
Winter Walk
Northfield
Dec 12
Stroll through charming downtown Northfield by candlelight, where you’ll find Santa, Rudolph, horse-drawn wagon rides, carolers and holiday shopping galore.
A fireworks display at Minneapolis' Holidazzle festival / Dusty Hoskovec, courtesy of Meet Minneapolis
Ice Candle Celebration
Embarrass
Dec 14
A holiday gathering with food, kids crafts and fellowship takes place in the Iron Range town of Embarrass, where ice candles are lit to remember loved ones in the Finnish tradition.
Dark Sky Festival
Grand Marais
Dec 12 - 14
Cook County is home to some of the darkest skies in the world. Every year, explorers, adventurers, artists, and photographers from around the world visit to experience the northern lights, the Milky Way, and the wonders of the northern night sky. Celebrate this celestial destination at our annual event.
Holidazzle
Minneapolis
Dec 18 - 22
The Minneapolis Holidazzle Festival is coming to the heart of downtown! Find festive cheer at Nicollet Mall between 6th Street and 11th Street to showcase the local food and art scenes, active lifestyle, local entertainers, and community groups that make our city and region unique and special.
Bentleyville Tour of Lights
Bentleyville "Tour of Lights"
Duluth
Through Dec 28
Each winter, the Bentleyville "Tour of Lights" transforms Bayfront Festival Park into an illuminated winter wonderland with Christmas music and more than 5 million lights. According to organizers, it's actually the largest free walk-through lighting display of its kind in the country and one of several local events lighting storefronts and skies during the holiday season.
Kiwanis Holiday Lights
Mankato
Through Dec 31
Visitors can walk or drive through this festive celebration featuring thousands of holiday lights while supporting the local community with non-perishable food donations.
Glow Holiday Festival
GLOW Holiday Festival
St. Paul
Through Jan 5
Located at CHS Field in Lowertown St. Paul, this event features more than a million holiday lights, interactive exhibits, photos with Santa Claus, and more.
Winter Lights
Chaska
Through Jan 5
Stroll through the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum’s gardens decked out with light displays highlighting flowers, trees, and the beauty of nature on a one-mile, self-guided walk.
Winter SKOLstice
Eagan
Through Feb 23
Located at Viking Lakes in Eagan, this popular event features an ice maze, holiday lights, campfire pits, local vendors, and more.
JANUARY 2025
Ely Dark Sky Festival
The Ice Palace
Delano
Jan 1 - March 2
Located in Delano, about 30 minutes from Minneapolis, the Ice Palace returns as one of the largest ice attractions in the state. It features more than 90,000 square feet of winter fun with brilliantly illuminated tunnels, ice slides, and towering structures.
Ely Dark Sky Festival
Ely
Jan 10 - 11
This two-day winter festival is packed with a variety of indoor and outdoor events hosted by area organizations. Learn about astronomy, astrophotography, winter recreation and the wonders of the Northern night sky.
Southern Minnesota Pond Hockey Championship
Fairmont
Jan 10 - 12
Celebrate the “state of hockey” in Fairmont and catch pond hockey games for players of all ages and abilities.
World Snow Sculpting Championship
Sandstone Ice Festival
Sandstone
Jan 11 - 12
Minnesota's original Ice Festival celebrates the coming of winter. The Sandstone Ice Festival is a fixture in the Midwestern ice climbing scene. The vibrant festival celebrates the best of winter adventure sports and is a gathering of kindred spirits who share a love for all things cold.
Ice Castles
St. Paul
Jan 11 - Feb 17
Located at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, the Ice Castles are a spectacular winter sight. Visitors can find frozen waterfalls, glaciers, tunnels, live entertainment, and more.
World Snow Sculpting Championship
Stillwater
Jan 15 - 26
Teams from around the world travel to Stillwater to create amazing snow sculptures while competing for prize money and the a world championship title. Fun for the whole family, this judged event includes various activities, ceremonies, and a people's choice award.
'Smooshing' at IceBox Days in International Falls / Marsha Shuff
Icebox Days & Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run
International Falls
Jan 17 - 25
Icebox Days is packed full of fun and zany games for all people, including frozen turkey bowling, the locally invented “smoosh” races, moonlight skiing in Voyageurs National Park, the infamous “Gizzard” runs and much more.
Art Shanty Projects
Minneapolis
Jan 18 - Feb 9
Temporary art installations and sporadic live performances take over a frozen Twin Cities lake for nearly a month.
Bold & Cold Festival
Owatonna
Jan 21 - 26
Why not be bold during the coldest month of winter and experience various events and activities that are designed to highlight the Minnesota psyche of "cold noses and warm hearts"?
The Great Northern Festival embraces the Danish concept of hygge / BLK WLF Photography
St. Paul Winter Carnival
St. Paul
Jan 23 - Feb 2
The Winter Carnival continues to bring family-friendly events and community pride. Dozens of free events, both traditional favorites and new attractions, will entertain people of all ages. Most events take place in downtown St. Paul, in and around Rice Park and Landmark Center, and at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
The Great Northern
Minneapolis and St. Paul
Jan 23 - Feb 2
A celebration across Minneapolis and St. Paul, visitors and locals alike will find amazing winter sports to spectate, like pond hockey, skijoring, and fat-tire bike racing, along with ice and snow sculpture competitions. Not to mention food-focused events featuring our thriving culinary community, outdoor concerts, and more.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon / Credit: Andy Witchger
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Duluth
Jan 26
The longest sled dog race in the lower 48, the nearly 400-mile event starts in Duluth and is a qualifier for the Iditarod in Alaska.
Winona Ice Fest
Winona
Jan 30 - Feb 2
The Winona Ice Fest is a collaborative event between the City of Winona, the Recreation Alliance of Winona, and Big River Climbing Guides to celebrate the Winona Ice Park and ice climbing with a bunch of friends, new and old.
Winterfest
St. Peter
Jan 31 - Feb 8
Scavenger hunt, polar plunge, ice skating, rock-paper-scissors and more are among the family-friendly festivities at this annual celebration on the ice.
FEBRUARY 2025
Ice palace at Detroit Lakes Polar Fest / Paul Vincent
City of Lakes Loppet
Minneapolis
Feb 1 - 2
Cross-country skiers of all ages can participate in the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival in Minneapolis, which also features skijoring (skiing with dogs) and a fat tire bike race.
Ely Winter Festival
Ely
Feb 6 - 16
Join the Ely Winter Festival, a spectacular 10-day celebration that captures the essence of winter in the Northwoods. This beloved annual event is packed with activities and attractions that showcase the unique charm and creativity of Ely.
Polar Fest
Detroit Lakes
Feb 7 - 23
Find more than two weeks of activities to celebrate winter in Detroit Lakes! Join the fun of Poles N Holes Fishing Derby, Polar Fest Plunge, fireworks at the City Beach and lots more.
The Kites on Ice Festival / Stacy Bunting
Kites on Ice
Buffalo
Feb 8
Kites of all colors, shapes and sizes will fill the air above a frozen lake in downtown Buffalo. Watch the pros perform aerial ballet with their kites, or build your own on-site.
Wayzata Chilly Open
Wayzata
Feb 8
The largest, most well-known, and unusual golf tournament is held on a frozen lake. Each year, over 2,000 golfers come from all around with their golf clubs and hockey sticks to putt with tennis balls around Wayzata Bay.
I.C.E. Fest
Little Falls
Feb 15 - 16
Watch as Little Falls attempts to regain the World Record for the Largest Ice Carousel, which will be carved on top of a frozen lake and solar powered. Curling, skating, fat biking and igloo building round out the on-ice fun.
Winter Beer Dabbler 2022 / Hunter Meyer
Grumpy Old Men Festival
Wabasha
Feb 21 - 22
Ice fishing, minnow races and a hot dish luncheon anchor an event named after the beloved Walter Matthau and Jack Lemmon film.
Gull Lake Frozen Fore
Brainerd
Feb 21 - 23
Use your snowmobile as a golf cart and play nine holes on Gull Lake, followed by a tent party with live music and an ice bar.
Winter Beer Dabbler
St. Paul
Feb 22
Located at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, sample great beer from breweries all over the United States, an amazing selection of cider and wine from renowned producers, and the tastiest seltzers on the market—all while enjoying music, food trucks, and other thrilling attractions.
Find more things to do in Minnesota this winter.
Caitlin Hannah is Explore Minnesota's senior digital social strategist. When traveling around the state, she likes spending time near the water, hiking, antique shopping, trying new restaurants, and watching hockey.