Discover nine upcoming winter festivals and events that make Minnesota’s most iconic season fun.
When winter lasts almost half the year, it’s our duty as cold-hardy Minnesotans to find ways to make the most of it. Who hasn’t gone to Target just to feel something after 4:30 p.m. in December?
Festivals across the state transform the winter into something worth celebrating. So don’t give winter the cold shoulder. Bundle up and lean into the deep freeze with activities only a snowman could love—from holiday shopping to movie-themed celebrations to artistic experiences.
1. Duluth Winter Village
Dec. 5–6 | Duluth
For two days only, the Duluth Winter Village pops up at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center, transporting you into a world of holiday merriment. Local vendors and makers gather in a community of rustic wooden booths.
Stop by all the little cabins, select something special for your holiday gift recipients, and admire the big, beautiful Christmas tree. Let the carolers and hot cocoa (or a boozy beverage) lull you into festive bliss while you shop!
2. World Snow Celebration
Jan. 10–17 | Stillwater
Each winter, Stillwater hosts the epic World Snow Celebration, which centers around its World Snow Sculpting Championship. Sculptors of frozen precipitation from all around the world come to compete, shaping snow into works of art over four days.
While the artists work their magic, there’s plenty of entertainment at Lowell Park. Past years’ events have included bingo and pull tabs, a candlelit walk and illuminated viewings of the sculptures, a speaking event with the artists, and an awards ceremony to crown the winners.
3. Icebox Days
Jan. 14–24 | International Falls
For those who are serious about winter, Icebox Days in International Falls is where it’s at. This festival prides itself on being wacky. Icebox Days’ zaniness takes the form of an awesome wintry mix of events around town—including frozen turkey bowling and a toilet seat toss on the big Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Race day. And what winter warmer would be complete without a chili contest?
Other wild entertainment includes a beach party, of all things, where $5 buys you two hours in the hot tubs at the local Wyndham Americinn. During daylight hours, the pool is tropical themed, and once nighttime falls, it becomes a glowing pool party. An extra five bucks gets you a Minnesota feast, a.k.a. a sloppy joe basket. Don’t tempt me with a good time!
There’s much more awesomeness packed into the week than can fit here, so find out for yourself all that’s in store for Icebox Days. And thank International Falls for making January enticing for once.
4. Art Shanty Projects
Jan. 16–Feb. 7 | Minneapolis
Art Shanty Projects might be one of Minnesota’s most truly unique winter traditions. In a state with hefty support for the arts, this program represents our creative spirit, championing public art even during the coldest months. Consider it the ice-cold counterpart to summer’s Art-A-Whirl.
Each year, dozens of artists create immersive artistic experiences housed within “shanties” assembled on Lake Harriet. From high-concept to socially charged to simply silly, the Art Shanty Projects represent a wide range of artistic ideas for visitors to engage with.
One project on display in 2026 was a wooden structure that presented its visitors with a choice: dismantle the structure and use its wood to fuel a fire for warmth—or generate one’s own heat by helping to reconstruct the cabin with manual labor. Makes ya think!
5. The Great Northern
Jan. 27–31 | Minneapolis
Packing a high-production-value punch, The Great Northern is one of Minneapolis’s hippest winter events. It partners with some of the city’s quintessential cultural institutions—like a climate film series at The Main Cinema and live music with The Current.
This year’s entertainment also includes a guest speaker spot with the very entertaining Alexis Nikole Nelson, a.k.a. Black Forager, and interactive luminary art installations by Transversal Studio, plus a sauna village, an ice bar, and an ice skating rink.
The five-day event aims to support climate change awareness and environmental stewardship while providing a uniquely Minnesotan atmosphere for people to come together.
6. St. Paul Winter Carnival
Jan. 28–Feb. 7 | St. Paul
When the St. Paul Winter Carnival was created, so was its very own fairy tale. As the legend goes, the Carnival arises from a clash between the forces of winter, led by King Boreas, and spring, led by the Vulcans. The event was created to dispel rumors that St. Paul and its long, cold winters were uninhabitable, and to restore winter’s good name (and the capital’s reputation).
Festivities during the 141-year-old tradition include two icy-cold parades bookending the carnival, impressive ice carvings and snow sculptures, and many events in which the drama of King Boreas and the Vulcans plays out (and die-hard festival-goers love to dress the part).
A slew of activities take place across St. Paul during the festival, and Visit St. Paul is a great resource for making your carnival itinerary.
7. Cold Front
Feb 6. | Duluth
Embrace winter and join in on a slew of snowy, icy, chilly activities at Cold Front in Duluth’s Bayfront Park. This one-day frosty festival features a wintry mix of fun from noon to night.
By day, there is curling, ice-hockey mini golf, and luge-style sledding. By night, big bonfires invite marshmallow roasting and s’mores assembly, while dancers twirl flaming baubles.
At Cold Front, you can take to the ice and snow for every kind of freeze-friendly activity you can imagine, so throw on your parka, trapper hat, boots, and gloves and get ready to make the most of winter at Bayfront Park.
8. Luminary Loppet
Feb. 13 | Minneapolis
Take to Lake of the Isles for an annual event everyone ought to try out at some point. The Luminary Loppet is the kind of thing to make you appreciate winter’s early nightfall. A whopping 1,200 icy luminaries are strung up and placed in lovely glowing arrangements across the frozen lake for one frosty night only.
Walk the candle-lit path and stay into the night to enjoy live music, food trucks, and fire-spinning performances. Oh, and don’t forget: free s’mores.
9. Grumpy Old Men Festival
Feb. 26–27 | Wabasha
Wabasha has its very own winter festival dedicated to another nineties cult classic set in our great state: “Grumpy Old Men.” In “Grumpy Old Men,” two feuding retirees kick their antics up a notch when an attractive widow moves in next door.
Constantly bickering against the backdrop of an all-too-familiar Minnesota winter, their smack talk inspired an enduring Wabasha celebration: Grumpy Old Men Festival. Minnesotans have donned their finest flannel and headed for the festival for 34 years and counting.
Festival fun takes place all weekend starting with early-bird coffee—a great reason to wake up on the wrong side of the bed! And don’t worry, the film is screened multiple times over the weekend. More Minnesota-themed activities have included a lit-up ATV parade, an ice fishing tournament, a hot dish luncheon, and so much more.
Get in, Moron, we’re going to Grumpy Old Men Festival.
