Explore Minnesota Reports Record-Breaking Tourism Growth in 2023

ST. PAUL, MN, December 10, 2024 – Explore Minnesota, the state's marketing and promotion agency, has released its 2023 tourism industry research findings, revealing a historic year for Minnesota tourism. Visitor spending reached a record $14.1 billion in 2023, marking an increase of $1 billion over 2022 and surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2019 by 7.8%. Minnesota also welcomed 80.2 million visitors in 2023, a 4.6% increase from the prior year.

Saint Paul Winter Carnival Statewide Ice Fishing Tournament

Welcome Minnesota Anglers & prepare your tackle for our month+ long fishing tournament! Save the date for our month-long digital ice fishing tournament through the FishDonkey Mobile App, launching January 5th and running through February 2, 2025.

Categories and leaderboards will update throughout the contest, so check the leaderboards on your phone or on the website to follow the tournament progress.

Winter Wonderettes

The Wonderettes are back! This seasonal celebration finds the girls entertaining at the annual Harper’s Hardware Holiday Party. When Santa turns up missing, the girls use their talent and creative ingenuity to save the holiday party! Featuring great ’60s versions of holiday classics such as “Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “Run, Rudolph, Run,” and “Winter Wonderland,” the result is, of course, marvelous!

Ugly Sweater House Party!

Ugly Sweater House Party 21+ Only (8 PM - 12 AM) Get ready for our Ugly Sweater House Party! Come decked out in your most outrageous, over-the-top holiday sweaters, and let’s see who takes the crown for Ugliest Sweater of the night! Featuring DJs Star IV and DEEDUHBBLYOO — Bringing the beats all night long! We’ll be clearing out tables to make room for a dance floor, so bring your moves! House Party Games
- Beer Pong
- Flip Cup
- & More!
Snack Bar
Fuel up for the night with a variety of snacks to keep the energy going.
Ugly Sweater Contest

Sax-Zim Bog Speaker Series

Sax-Zim Bog will have special guest speakers throughout Winter & Spring 2025 with special presentations about wildlife in North Eastern Minnesota that avid naturalists and hobbyists alike will find interesting!

December 20th - The Day Before Winter - Presented by Dave Benson, co-founder of Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, Naturalist, and Author

"Miracle On South Division Street" by Tom Dudzick

MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET is the story of the Nowak family, living amidst the urban rubble of Buffalo, NY’s East Side. Maybe the neighborhood is depressed, but not Clara, the family matriarch. She happily runs her soup kitchen and tends to the family heirloom – a twenty-foot shrine to the Blessed Mother which adjoins the house. This neighborhood beacon of faith commemorates the day in 1942 when the Blessed Virgin Mary materialized in her father’s barber shop! When the play opens, a family meeting is in progress.

Holiday Lane at the Northrup King Building

Holiday Lane returns to the Northrup King Building! Cozy up with a hot chocolate or seasonal treat as you wander the halls, exploring hundreds of one-of-a-kind gifts and artwork from talented local artists and creators. Studios will be decked out in holiday decor and sharing festive treats, while Blackberry Bakery brings fresh-baked goodies to add to the cheer.