Find Frosty Fun at These Minnesota Winter Festivals
Find Frosty Fun at These Minnesota Winter Festivals
By Erica Wacker
We don't hide from winter weather in Minnesota; we celebrate it at festivals by engaging in everything from frozen turkey bowling to ice bar tippling to golfing on ice! So bundle up, grab your family and friends, and check out the many ways to play at winter festivals around the state.
Social ICE festival in Rochester / Chelsea Rostad
'Smooshing' at IceBox Days in International Falls / Marsha Shuff
Sleigh & Cutter Festival in Waseca
Ice palace at Detroit Lakes Polar Fest / Paul Vincent
Wayzata Chilly Open on Lake Minnetonka / Dynamic Photowerks
Northeast Minnesota
IceBox Days, International Falls
IceBox Days is known for its crazy games and wacky activities such as frozen turkey bowling, the infamous Gizzard runs and locally invented smoosh racing, which have garnered a lot of national attention over the years.
Hygge Festival, Grand Marais
Hygge (the Danish ritual of embracing life’s simple pleasures) is especially meaningful in wintertime. This annual Hygge Festival lets you enjoy cozy surroundings, the warmth of family and friends, and fun activities such as fondue nights, cozy couple dinners, bonfires, talented musicians, dog sled tours, snowshoe hikes and much more.
Ely Winter Festival
The 10-day Ely Winter Festival and Art Walk is a celebration of the unique culture, art, history and traditions of this north woods town adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Main attractions include the snow sculpting competition and artwork on display throughout downtown.
Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes / Paul Vincent
Northwest Minnesota
Frostival, Moorhead
In Moorhead, the frosty fun lasts six weeks during their annual Frostival celebration. The event includes winter wildlife hikes, disc golf, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, candle-lit trail walks, snowga (that is yoga in the snow) or go on a sleigh ride. Stroll through Viking Ship Park to see incredible snow sculptures and warm up by a bonfire with hot chocolate and other toasty treats. The celebration takes place Jan. 14 to Feb. 25.
Polar Fest, Detroit Lakes
Polar Fest features more than two weeks of volunteer-led events, including ice golf, skiing, a fishing derby, a hot dish challenge and something that has to be seen to be believed: Frozen Fireworks.
Ice Fest, Thief River Falls
Ice Fest celebrates winter with dog sled rides, fat biking, 5K and 10K races, hockey games and much more.
Ice Fest at Breezy Point Resort
Central Minnesota
Ice Fest, Breezy Point
Ice Fest delivers a myriad of activities on ice such as pond hockey, ice fishing, curling, snow golf, bag toss games and dancing to live music under a tent on the ice. Off the ice, take horse-drawn hayrides, ski by candlelight and warm by a bonfire. Area pubs and restaurants offer special deals and discounts.
WinterFest, Crosslake
Find old-fashioned family fun including pond hockey and bocce ball tournaments, kid's games, a pancake breakfast and even helicopter rides at the annual WinterFest in Crosslake. Additional festivities include horse-drawn sleigh rides, a bonfire and s'mores and a medallion hunt.
Winter Jubilee, Nisswa
Winter Jubilee activities include snow sculpture building, the Jubilee Parade, a wood-splitting contest, smoosh racing, medallion hunt, live music, dancing and an ice fishing contest on Nisswa Lake.
Take a ride down the snow slide at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, part of The Great Northern
Minneapolis-St. Paul Area
Saint Paul Winter Carnival
Part of The Great Northern, which also encompasses the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships and City of Lakes Loppet, 2024 Loppet COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup, and Winter Carnival has been a capital city tradition since 1886. Thousands of revelers come to downtown St. Paul for events including ice sculpture carving, a winter run, snowplow competition, parades and fireworks.
Chilly Open, Wayzata
Minnesota golf in February? You betcha! Imagine three 9-hole courses plowed out on Lake Minnetonka and over 1,700 golfers with their hockey sticks and golf clubs hitting and putting tennis balls. Players and onlookers will also enjoy free food, snowga (yoga), snowkiting (kite skiing), dog sled rides and the 19th hole tent.
United We Shiver
While the breathtaking United We Shiver Plunge is the highlight of Shiver Elk River, there are many other fun outdoor events including an outdoor hockey tournament, 5K and 10K run/walk, bean bag tournament, medallion hunt, special family activities, as well as live music, craft beer garden and bingo.
Bock Fest at Schell's Brewery in New Ulm / Don Borstad
Southern Minnesota
Bock Fest , New Ulm
Beckon warmer weather at Bock Fest with a mug full of Bock beer, live music, hot brats and bonfires. Seven Bocks of Winter are hiding around the Schell's Brewery grounds, waiting to be found. Human St. Bernards, with kegs of beer on their backs, are ready to assist weary hunters.
Bold & Cold, Owatonna
Be bold and embrace “cold noses and warm hearts” during the weekend Bold & Cold celebration. Highlights include a medallion hunt, ice fishing, candlelight skiing, fat tire bike races, snow sculpture competitions and more.
Winterfest, St. Peter
This fun-filled festival includes a Winterfest opening ceremony party, free hot chocolate and s'mores, medallion hunts, a polar plunge, hairy legs competition, poker walk, Commander's Chilifest and a winter demolition derby.
Sleigh & Cutter Festival, Waseca
The Sleigh & Cutter Parade is the highlight of this festival, featuring various breeds of horses pulling animal-powered sleighs. Other activities include snowmobile drag races, live music, dancing, ice-tundra golf, cross-country skiing, medallion hunt and a family movie night.
SocialICE, Rochester
Downtown Rochester's premier winter festival, SocialICE lets you experience uniquely designed and themed ice bars, each with signature drinks, as well as full-scale ice sculptures illuminated with special lighting effects and live DJ entertainment nightly.