For those of you who love an adventure and have a love for the outdoors despite the winter weather, or if you love the season but hate the cold. There is something for everyone and here is a list of some things to do in the Twin Cities. (Check back because I will continue to add events)
St. Paul Winter Carnival Events:
Website
What: Kids Day!
When: Saturday, January 24th
Location: Landmark Center Cortile, 75 W 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
What: Bring the kids inside to warm up and take a stroll through the Landmark Center Cortile. Bouncy houses, crafts, a stage with live entertainment – plenty to do all afternoon! And don’t miss catching Daniel the Tiger from tpt during the Grand Day parade and afterwards at the Landmark Center, starting at 2p.m. and ending at 6p.m.!
St. Paul Winter Carnival Events:
Website
What: Kids Day!
When: Saturday, January 24th
Location: Landmark Center Cortile, 75 W 5th Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102
What: Bring the kids inside to warm up and take a stroll through the Landmark Center Cortile. Bouncy houses, crafts, a stage with live entertainment – plenty to do all afternoon! And don’t miss catching Daniel the Tiger from tpt during the Grand Day parade and afterwards at the Landmark Center, starting at 2p.m. and ending at 6p.m.!
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Cost: Free and open to the public
What: Snow Park @ the Minnesota State Fairgrounds
Website
When: Events run Friday, January 23 through Sunday, February 1.
Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, (located on the kidway)
About: Organized by the St. Paul Vulcans, Daily attractions include viewing snow sculptures (both Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition entries and exhibition pieces) and zooming down the giant snow slide. Vulcan Fun Day (Sunday, January 25) features a host of other family-friendly activities, including fire truck rides, scavenger hunts, and the snow sculpting competition awards ceremony.
Time: see website for times of various activities
Cost: FREE
Cost: Free and open to the public
What: Snow Park @ the Minnesota State Fairgrounds
Website
When: Events run Friday, January 23 through Sunday, February 1.
Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, (located on the kidway)
About: Organized by the St. Paul Vulcans, Daily attractions include viewing snow sculptures (both Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition entries and exhibition pieces) and zooming down the giant snow slide. Vulcan Fun Day (Sunday, January 25) features a host of other family-friendly activities, including fire truck rides, scavenger hunts, and the snow sculpting competition awards ceremony.
Time: see website for times of various activities
Cost: FREE
Tubing/Skiing/Cross Country Skiing:
Website
Website
Location: Three Rivers Park District
A great place to take your family tubing. Go down a lighted hill and ride the lift back up to go down again. Along with the tubing hill there is a beginner skiing hill and cross country trail. Warm up in the chalet where you can warm up and have a hot cocoa. The season typically starts in December and runs through mid-march so it is best to check their site or call if you are wondering if they are open yet.
The chalet also provides equipment rental, a fireplace and places to sit, and concessions.
Cost: You can purchase activity passes at the Elm Creek Chalet from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Cross country ski passes may be purchased online.
Loppet – The Urban Cross Country Ski Festival
Website
Location: City of the Lakes, Loppet, 1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55422
There are many vendors available including the new Surly Brewing Co. Fireworks are from 8-9:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30th along with many other fun events.
2014 Red Bull Crashed Ice
Website
Location: Cathedral of St. Paul
When: January 22 - 24
Loppet – The Urban Cross Country Ski Festival
Website
Location: City of the Lakes, Loppet, 1301 Theodore Wirth Pkwy, Minneapolis, MN 55422
Date: January 30th – February 1st 2015
Register to be a participant or come to cheer others on and enjoy the beauty of being outdoors in Minnesota in the winter.There are many vendors available including the new Surly Brewing Co. Fireworks are from 8-9:00 p.m. on Friday, January 30th along with many other fun events.
Ice Castle in Eden Prairie:
Website
Website
When: Open December 26th if weather permits through March
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
Cost: (Monday – Thursday) $7.95 for children 4 -11 and $9.95 for general admission and (Friday-Sunday) $9.95 for children and $11.95 for general admission.
What: This amazing attraction is brought to Minnesota from a company from Utah and will be open to the public on December 26th if weather permits. Tickets start to go on sale in November. 5,000 icicles are grown per day on “ice farms” which get “harvested” and thousands of LED lights illuminate the many icicles.
Cost: (Monday – Thursday) $7.95 for children 4 -11 and $9.95 for general admission and (Friday-Sunday) $9.95 for children and $11.95 for general admission.
What: This amazing attraction is brought to Minnesota from a company from Utah and will be open to the public on December 26th if weather permits. Tickets start to go on sale in November. 5,000 icicles are grown per day on “ice farms” which get “harvested” and thousands of LED lights illuminate the many icicles.
2014 Red Bull Crashed Ice
Website
Location: Cathedral of St. Paul
When: January 22 - 24
What: For the past three freezing-cold winters, Saint Paul has hosted the ice cross downhill competition, with a huge crowd of more than 100,000 people converging under the gaze of the imposing Cathedral of Saint Paul to witness the high-speed action that features skaters competing in four-man heats in a race to the bottom of a long ice track full of obstacles. The sport appeals to what Americans like most in sports – a physically challenging, rough, tough sport coupled with high-speed action and agility. Americans have done surprisingly well as neophytes in their first few years in the 15-year-old sport, despite having far less experience than established nations like Canada, Finland, Germany, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
The 2015 track will start in front of the Cathedral of Saint Paul and the riders will be propelled over a bridge. All skills will be needed in Saint Paul, as the skaters will require a steady momentum to face the obstacles, the last corner-jump, and the final sprint to the finish line.
Wells Fargo Winter Skate in Rice Park, St. Paul
Website
Wells Fargo Winter Skate in Rice Park, St. Paul
Website
Location: Downtown St. Paul
When: November 29 - February 1
St. Paul's outdoor ice rink every winter. The Winterskate rink is next to the Landmark Center and Rice Park, so it's surrounded by holiday lights and the city lights of downtown St. Paul. The rink is open every day, and open until late evening at the weekend.
When: November 29 - February 1
St. Paul's outdoor ice rink every winter. The Winterskate rink is next to the Landmark Center and Rice Park, so it's surrounded by holiday lights and the city lights of downtown St. Paul. The rink is open every day, and open until late evening at the weekend.
It's free to skate if you have your own ice skates, or you can rent skates for a couple of dollars.
