Winter Festivals in Minnesota

Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean you need to stay indoors! There’s tons of festivals happening throughout winter in Minnesota. Check this big list of winter festivals in Minnesota for 2026.

From festival food, to special events, to fireworks, every community has its own way to celebrate.

Maybe you live near multiple cities or want to plan a day trip – there are so many Minnesota winter festivals to choose from!

Our list is sorted based on the date of the festival, allowing you to follow along with your calendar.

Read on to find when there is a festival happening near your community!

Winter Fete in Bloomington

Winter Fete begins December 2025 and goes through February 2026 in Bloomington. Activities are free unless otherwise noted, and fun for the whole family!

• Skiing activities
• Biking events
• Ice Skating
• Winter Kite Festival
• History Festival
• and more!!

Winterfest in Anoka

Anoka is literally a Hallmark movie town and they always have a fun festival going on! From January 12th- 16th, there are 5 days packed with winter fun. A combination of free and ticket events, there is something for the whole family to enjoy.

Some of the highlights include a luminary walk with free hot cocoa and s’mores, snowshoeing/skiing, a free glow skate and sledding event, puzzle competition, bingo, winter crafts and more. Many of the events are free, but do require preregistration.

World Snow Sculpting Championship in Stillwater

One of our most favorite events around here at Thrifty Minnesota! These snow sculptures are seriously epic! Teams from around the world all travel to Stillwater to create amazing snow sculptures and compete for prize money and the title of the World Champion. 

The event is being hosted at Lowell Park in Stillwater from January 13th – 25th. There are other events happening in conjunction with the championship, but all activities and events in Lowell Park are free and open to the public.

Ice Box Days in International Falls

Ice Box Days in International Falls has been highlighted by national news as one of the best celebrations of winter. Join in the fun with frozen turkey bowling; the locally invented “smoosh” races; moonlight skiing in Voyageurs National Park; the infamous “Gizzard” runs and much more happening January 16th- 25th!

Viking Lakes Ice Festival in Eagan

Viking Lakes Ice Festival in Eagan is taking place January 16th – January 25th 2026. Find fun for all ages and skill levels each day! Warm up with competitive sports and activities on the ice, view ice sculptures and the ice maze, and check out the Warming Haus with Nordic flair.

Tickets are $13/weekend or $8/weeknight for a single day, or $25 for a season pass. Kids 5 and under are FREE!

Art Shanty Projects in Minneapolis

This year the Shantys are scheduled to be open weekends January 17th to February 8th, 2026. But as you know weather can change and if it gets too warm outside the Shantys will close early.

We’ve been to the Art Shanty Projects at least four different years and each time loved it.  Although there is a suggested donation of $10-20 per person, nobody will be turned away. The temporary village on the ice is really something you just need to experience first hand. Each individual Shanty has its own story, brought to life in an interactive artistic form. 

Art Shanty Projects transforms a frozen lake surface into a creative community space that is part art gallery, part art residency and part social experiment. Thousands of people are drawn to the outdoor event during a time of year when weather often keeps residents isolated. The unpredictable wind-swept, snow-covered location challenges artists to generate platforms for unique experiences while contending with natural and human elements.

Bold and Cold in Owatonna

About an hour away from the Twin Cities, Owatonna’s Bold & Cold Events and activities run between January 19th- 25th, 2026. There’s something for everyone to enjoy– a medallion hunt, cardboard sled races, ice fishing contest, snow sculpture contest, fat tire biking, snowshoeing, Winter Walk Brrrr-ingo and so much more!

Saint Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival takes place January 22nd – February 1st, 2026 with tons of free and fun events for the whole family! There are TWO parades to keep you entertained and make a fun family tradition! The King Boreas Grand Day Parade takes place on Saturday, January 24th at 2pm. Or you can attend a nighttime parade with the Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade on Saturday, January 31st at 5:15pm.

The Ice Sculpture Garden takes place in Rice Park. The talent that is shown each year is simply astounding! Try to see them at night when they are all lit up and take on a magic of their own. Visit the Minnesota State Fairgrounds each day for family fun activities including a snow maze and visits by the Vulcans. You can also check out the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition to see masterpieces carved out of 8-foot cubes of snow. Stop by Landmark Center on Saturday, January 31st from 10:30 am – 5 pm for entertaining performances, arts and crafts, storytelling, and other FREE activities for all ages.

Lake Harriet Kite Festival in Minneapolis

Look up and surround yourself with colorful kites flying over Lake Harriet in Minneapolis on Saturday, January 24th, 2025 from 12 pm – 4 pm during the 23rd Annual Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival.

Search the skies near the bandshell, on the north end of the lake for this outdoor, family friendly event. Fly a kite of your own, purchase a kite to fly, watch as many kites fill the sky, or participate in the many activities planned for you to enjoy.

Vinterfest in Scandia

Have you been to Scandia? Or maybe I should ask if you’ve even heard of it? Scandia is a small town of Scandinavian heritage, halfway between Stillwater and Taylor’s Falls. There’s so much to do– especially during a festival like Vinterfest!

Vinterfest is a free, winter themed festival in Scandia on Friday, January 23rd and Saturday, January 24th. Most things are happening on Saturday– a pancake breakfast, sledding, a Vinterfest Medallion Hunt, children’s activities, snow sculpture contest, meet the Raptors from the Wildlife Research Center, fireworks and more! You could easily spend all day at this festival and still not see everything!

Great Northern Festival in Minneapolis and St. Paul

The Great Northern Festival spans 5 days, with events between January 28th – February 1st, 2026 across many venues in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Find festival events across many categories, such as music and performance, outdoor active, food and drink, climate, and art.

Bold and Bright in St. Cloud

St. Cloud’s Bold & Bright Festival is a great reason to get out of town! Bold & Bright is Friday, January 30th- Sunday, February 1st. There are a lot of free events to pick from for your whole family to enjoy!

Some highlights include a historic downtown winter art crawl and free skate on Friday night, a free family movie, llamas during the day Saturday and a parade at night. Sunday has lots of restaurant deals and games around St. Cloud.

Frostival in Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo

Looking for some winter fun in one of the coldest places around? Look no further than Frostival in Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo on January 31st, 2026.

Frostival is all about celebrating the “cool” of winter with outdoor events and family-friendly activities across our North of Normal city, Fargo, and its sister cities West Fargo and Moorhead. Each year, Frostival’s exciting events for all ages help the community and visitors through the metro’s long winter seasons. Grab your friends, your winter gear and get ready to make some fun memories!

Highlights include youth pond hockey, shows at the planetarium, candlelight trails, s’mores, sauna, sleigh rides and more.

Polar Fest in Burnsville

Celebrate winter with outdoor fun at Burnsville’s Polar Fest planned for Saturday, January 31st from 11am – 2pm. Family-friendly outdoor activities are planned for the day. This event features ice bowling, ice bocce, sledding, ice skating, horse-drawn carriage rides, mite hockey games, a softball tournament, Kidsdance DJ, Burnsville Police and Fire, food trucks and more! Admission is free; food will be available for purchase.

Ely Winter Festival in Ely

February is one of the best times to enjoy the Ely area, as it’s time for the annual Ely Winter Festival! The festival runs for more than a week starting February 5th and continuing until February 15th, 2026.

Some of the activities include:

• Snow Sculpting Symposium
• Art Walk
• Dorothy Molter Whirlwind! Community Event
• Folk School Classes
• Listening Point Snowshoe Tour
• Ely Film Festival
• Candlelight Ski

Winter Whirl in Mendota Heights

Head to Mendota Heights for Winter Whirl (formally Frozen Fun Fest) for free ice fishing, a petting zoo, cardboard sled derby, a puzzle competition, craft supply swap and more on February 5th- 8th, 2026!

On Friday, February 7th, there will be ice skating loop on the lake, free Learn to Ice Fish lessons, a petting zoo, bonfires, a cardboard sled derby, and more — I’m sure there will be something for your whole family to enjoy!

Plymouth Fire and Ice Winter Festival in Plymouth

Head to Plymouth this Saturday, February 7th, for the annual Fire & Ice winter festival. Recent years have led to challenges with poor ice conditions, so the event has been moved from the frozen lake to Plymouth Creek Playfield.

You’ll find lots of events for both kids and adults! Some activities will be weather permitting like ice skating, sledding, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. There are also indoor activities in a heated including bingo and DJ-led music. There’s also an igloo village, snow play area and a llama meet and great! Fireworks will light up the sky at 6:30pm to wrap up the night!

Hudson Hot Air Affair in Hudson, WI

You know an event has to be good if we are willing to share it from Wisconsin! Hudson Hot Air Affair is one of our favorite events of the year– when else do you get to see a bunch of Hot Air Balloons up close and personal?

Hudson Hot Air Affair, the premier winter ballooning event and winter festival in the Midwest, is an annual event.  This years theme is “Sky Walkers Return to Rock” happening February 6th- 8th.

You’ll want this to be a yearly tradition once you go if you’ve never been.  You’ll find fun that incudes activities such as: 

• Torchlight Parade
• Fireworks
• Moon Glow/Field of Fire
• Marketplace and craft fair
• Food drive
• Geocaching
• Pancake breakfast
• Kite flying
• Ice carving
• Nature programs
• And More…. 

Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes

Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes offers various activities between February 6th and February 22nd, 2026.

Each February, the festival hosts many activities to choose from that express winter by the lake. Plan a day trip or choose to stay for the weekend, there is so much to do! From food and drinks, gatherings, to outdoor adventures such as the Polar Plunge and Frozen Fireworks– there’s something for the whole family to enjoy!

Feb Fest in Chanhassen

Head outside to Chanhassen Saturday, February 7th from 12 – 3 pm for their annual February Festival (Feb Fest). It’s held on Lake Ann and includes an ice fishing contest, food and drink concessions, door prizes, a medallion hunt and free family activities!

Mid-Winter Festival in Apple Valley

It’s always fun to find new ways to enjoy the outdoors during the winter. Even better when you can get in on some free family fun! One such event is the Apple Valley Mid-Winter Fest, coming up Saturday, February 7th, 2026 from 9am – 7:15 pm.

This annual festival began in 1978 and has been an Apple Valley tradition ever since! Admission and parking are free, and food and beverages are available for purchase. Remember to dress warm!

Kites on Ice Festival in Buffalo

We discovered another winter kite festival, this one taking place near the town of Buffalo. Mark your calendar for the Kites on Ice Festival taking place from 11 am – 3 pm on Saturday, February 14th.

If you’ve never been to a kite event, know that you are welcome to bring your own and fly it. Of course you can also just watch all the other kites! Some are huge, while others are a bit more simple. Free dog sled rides are planned for this day too.

Winter Play Day at Three Rivers Park District Locations

The headlining event is the Winter Play Day Festival on Saturday, February 21st from 11 am – 3:30 pm at Hyland Lake Park Reserve. There are many activities planned.

Winter Play Day Festival Activities at Hyland Lake Park Reserve Include:

• Free mini-lessons and demonstrations about snow-making 
• Free walk-up rentals for snowshoes, cross-country skis, and adaptive sit-ski equipment
• Winter market featuring local vendors
• Interactive nature education and exploration activities, including a trail ride and winter fun walk in the park
• Live music
• Warm beverages and food from local breweries and caterers
  • Bring your reusable mug or compostable cup for a free cocoa, cider or coffee 
• Warm up at bonfires
• Explore the park and look for the ice sculpture
• Have fun with snow in the Snow Play Area, where you can paint snow or explore the quinzhee (shelter built out of snow)

33rd Annual Grumpy Old Men Festival in Wabasha

The 33rd Annual Grumpy Old Men Festival is taking place Friday, February 27th and Saturday, February 28th. I think almost all Minnesotans are fans of the movie Grumpy Old Men. You just have to love a movie that is set in Minnesota AND was filmed here!  It’s hard to imagine it really has been 33 years though! 

The festivities are always interesting with some new activities, but they always have old favorites including the ice fishing contest, library story hour, a s’more station and kid-friendly games, and more.

Whew– that was a lot of Winter Festivals! Did we miss your favorite? Let us know in the comments so we can add it to the list!