Date/Time
Date(s) - 12/26/2025 - 02/21/2026
SEE TIMES
Location
Minnesota State Fairgrounds 1265 Snelling Avenue North, Saint Paul, MN, 55108
Description
The magical Ice Castles will be held at the State Fairgrounds again in 2026! Once inside, explore the glittering ice palaces for as long as you’d like, crawling through tunnels and even taking a slide or two. December 26-February 21, 2026 (weather permitting, of course). Tickets $13-$26.
Experience a winter wonderland like never before at the breathtaking Ice Castles! These stunning structures will transport you to a magical world of ice and snow. Plan your trip to visit the Ice Castles in 2026 and make unforgettable memories at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Here is what to expect when you visit.
Returning to Saint Paul in 2026, make sure you bundle up in all your layers so that you can safely spend lots of time at the icy palace to get the best value for the ticket price. This event will particularly delight your favorite Frozen fans. However, not just the kids, but the whole family will enjoy an Ice Castles visit.
What is Ice Castles?
Ice Castles is a spectacular creation by professional ice artists featuring sculptures, fountains, thrones, ice caverns, a winter chandelier and passageways — all in castles made of hand-placed icicles. The Twin Cities is one of only 5 North American locations for this ice adventure. Other locations include New Hampshire, two Colorado sites, and a Canada location.
Brent Christensen’s Ice Castles has moved locations over the years. In 2026, it returns to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
Ice Castles fun
Brent Christensen created this beautiful annual kingdom of ice after moving from warm, sunny California to snowy Utah. He likes to experiment and play around, and the snow and ice of Utah were the perfect vehicle for his creativity.
Since 2011, he has been creating these masterpieces for the public all over the country. Many different locations around the country have hosted and are hosting an Ice Castle. Each location creates a unique experience–even though they use many of the same elements, tunnels, waterfalls, ice, etc.
What to expect from the 2026 Minnesota Ice CastlesÂ
- Perfect setting for pictures and special occasions. Bring your cameras. If you don’t, you will kick yourself. Guests of all ages are walking into the Land of the Ice Princess. Weather permitting there will be fire dancers on the weekends and maybe some of your favorite princesses.
- Outdoor fun: This event is not only entirely outdoors, it is on a frozen lake. You know the drill: wear boots, dress in layers, hats, gloves, etc. In other words, dress like a Minnesotan on ice.
- Hot chocolate, coffee, cider, cookies, and sandwiches for sale. Grown-ups can get winter-themed adult beverages at the Ice Bar.
- Think, what would Elsa build? This award-winning, frozen attraction is what fairy tales are made up. Exhilarating ice slides, an ice cave, frozen ice sculptures, crawl spaces, archways.
- Crawl tunnels. Created for children and adventurous adults, crawl through ice-carved tunnels made of ice.
- Winter Carnival fun. Time your visit with Winter Carnival and add in the fun of the Vulcan Snow Park.
Minnesota Ice Castles 2026 information & coupon codes
- Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Avenue, Falcon Heights, MN 55108.
- Free parking: Enter through Gate 3 on Hoyt Avenue. Park in the Robin Lot.
Dates: Closed Tuesdays & Wednesdays. December 26, 2025 through February 21, 2026, weather permitting. - Tickets (Purchase advanced tickets on the Ice Castles website):
- Monday, Thursday Pricing: $13/child; $19/adult;
- Weekend (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) Pricings: $18/child; $26/adult.
- Holiday Pricing: Expect to pay higher rates equal to the weekend pricing on the Martin Luther King (January 19) & Presidents Day (February 16) school holidays.
- FFTC discount code:Â FFTC2026
- Website:Â Ice Castles Minnesota
Escape to a winter wonderland and visit the stunning Ice Castles. Tell us about your experience visiting the beauty and magic of these frozen structures. Leave tips, reviews and helpful information for parents in the comments.
Related content
- Saint Paul Winter Carnival: Top Family Activities
- Twin Cities Winter Family Festival Calendar
- Best Places to Take Your Sleds in the Twin Cities
- Visit Stillwater for more Winter Fun
- Central Park of Maple Grove’s Ice Loop
This article was originally written by Gianna in 2014
and is updated with current information annually
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Please Note: This calendar is personally curated by FamilyFunTwinCities.com to include only events we believe would be of interest to families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we have hundreds of calendar entries to manage and sometimes miss event modifications or make mistakes. We are not employed by or connected to the venues for the events we share and they will sometimes change without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website to verify the information we have shared.
No. 103454
Can I buy tickets at yhe gate versus on-line where they charge a fee. I was thinking of coming Thursday Feb 6 during off peak time like around 4 or 5. Also how long can you stay in the ice castle display to have fun. And I’d the music extra
Hi, Dolores. Ice Castles does sell a limited amount of “Stand By” tickets onsite when space is available, but these tickets cost more than the online tickets, so you will not save on the service fee by doing this. Once you are in, you can stay at Ice Castles until close, but if you leave, there is no re-entry. The music is part of the experience. Food, beferages and some activities, like the sleigh rides, cost extra. Note that we are not associated with Ice Castles. The website that we link to can answer more of your questions either in the FAQ section or through the chat box provided. We hope you and your kids have fun!!
Where’s the coupon code?
Sorry, Jo. We’ll have it soon. Check back in a couple days.