Visit the Magical Ice Castles

December 30, 2020 / Featured / By / 113 Comments / 3 minutes of reading
Ice Castles in Eden Prairie

Ice Castles has moved around the Twin Cities from year to year; but it’s always a good time. In the past it has been at the MOA, Eden Prairie, Stillwater, Excelsior and New Brighton. Quite LITERALLY in my backyard! Where will 2021 be? Not in Minnesota, unfortunately. Although, they likely got the idea for this attraction from our historic Winter Carnival, ironically, Ice Castles is not returning to Minnesota in 2021. While this is a bit disappointing, we have three alternative options for you in 2021:

  1. If you want to see this particular national attraction, you’ll have to drive to Lake Geneva Wisconsin. Our friends at Lake Country Family Fun will have all the details and a giveaway.
  2. If you are looking for some beautiful snow sculptures nearby, we recommend the original Saint Paul Winter Carnival. 
  3. Check out Improv-ICE in Rochester Minnesota from February 4-11, 2021.

What is Ice Castles?

It’s spectacular. 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.

In 2013, the Mall of America was host to one of Brent Christensen’s Ice Castles. At the time I didn’t realize what I was missing out on by not visiting it. However, in 2015, I made sure to not miss out. I packed up the kids and drove out to Eden Prairie’s Miller Park just off Hwy 212.

Ice Castle 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.

Ice Castle Beauty

Since 2011, he has been creating this masterpieces for the public all over the country.  Many different locations around the county 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 Ice Castles

  • Perfect Setting for pictures. Bring your cameras. If you don’t, you will kick yourself. You 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.
  • Hot chocolate, coffee, cider, cookies, and sandwiches for sale.
  • A frozen tube slide or two
  • Ample opportunities to crawl into tunnels and play hide and seek (although I don’t recommend that since lots of people are visiting and you may actually lose your children).

Ice Castle Priince

Minnesota Ice Castles 2021 Information & Coupon Codes

  • Location: Geneva National Resort & Club, Lake Geneva Wisconsin
  • Dates: Dates & Hours Dependent on Weather
  • Tickets: $12.99-$22.99/pp .

Looking for Coupon Codes? Our two favorite sites for finding discounts on events like these are Thrifty Minnesota and Twin Cities Frugal Mom.

Ice Castles in Minnesota

This article was originally written by Gianna in 2014
and is updated with current information annually

113 thoughts on “Visit the Magical Ice Castles”

  2. Darnelle

    Our Family has had a tradition that started in 1987. the first few years we built Ice Castles out of blocks of Ice cut out of a nearby lake. In more recent years it has changed to Ice Carvings instead using miscellaneous tools such as a chain saw and other carving types of tools. After carving our masterpieces we enjoy a nice potluck meal. Super fun time for all! Excited for this years event!

    Reply
  3. Amy K.

    I’m not a big winter lover, but my husband and kids definitely are. We live near the best sledding hill I’ve ever seen in my life, and they get out there just about any day the temps are above 20!

    Reply
  12. Liz Benoit

    We love sledding and belly boggining during the winter. Thankfully we have two pint size hills in our yard for our two pint size ladies so we get out as often as we can!

    Reply
  15. Carolyn

    Our family has fun sledding, making snowmen, and having snowball fights! Grandkids love going to grandpa’s and being pulled behind the four-wheel on the sled. Then after being able to inside for hot chocolate.

    Reply
  22. Jessica Thorsen

    we enjoy the winters here in Minnesota by going sledding and ice staking. This year we plan on taking our 3 yr old snow shoeing!

    Reply
  23. Erin

    Our family just moved to Minnesota 2 weeks ago! We haven’t done anything winter related but are really looking forward to ice skating, tubing , and broom hockey. We would love to visit these ice castles!!

    Reply
  34. Nicole

    We enjoy the winter by doing various things like going to Bentleyville in Duluth, Kiwanis Holiday lights in Mankato, doing a Holiday Lights Rally Race, attending ice races, sledding, playing in the snow, etc! Lots to do in MN!

    Reply
  39. Jo

    This winter has been a bit too cold for us so it has been a lot of baking, crafts and Netflix. But when it’s nice, we go sledding or for a walk on the ice behind our house. Trying to stay active when all you want to do is cuddle up is hard!

    Reply
  51. Paula Haller

    One of the ways my family and I enjoy winter, besides sledding, is going geocaching. Winter brings on extra challenges that are fun to try meet in that hobby. Some geocaches, like caches hidden on islands or in swamps, can only be located during the freezing winter.

    Reply
  54. Ginny

    My kids like to eat lots and lots of snow, cry about a cold face then come in and drink hot chocolate. They’re 2 and 4.

    Reply
  68. Heidi B

    Snow forts and colored snow are 2 of our favorites(and I don’t mean yellow either! like with spray bottles and food coloring/water mix thing it’s a fun thing to do. Adds a little color to those magical snow forts!

    Reply
  71. DeniseJ

    We love sledding. We make it a fun outdoors type of picnic, bringing hot chocolate in thermos’, cookies, and granola along for snacks.

    Reply
  73. Andrea Miltenberger

    Last year my husband started a tradition of building a quinzhee in our backyard. They pile up all the snow and then dig a cave out of it. We’re trying to do it this year but we need more snow!

    Reply
  74. Angie

    We’re a downhill skiing family! Welch is our resort of choice. But also skating, snowshoeing and XC skiing. Make the best of winter!

    Reply
  78. Jessica

    We all go sledding every year. Even if you are all grown up- there is a sensation of joy when you are zooming down the hill and land in a bunch of snow!

    Reply
  89. Kendra

    Our family loves to go sledding, build snow forts, have snowball fights, play snow football! This year we plan to introduce our kids to ice skating!

    Reply
  96. Tonia JP

    Snowshoeing in our backyard, sledding and making snowmen. When we want to stay inside, checking out the MN Children’s Museum!

    Reply
  98. Nicola

    We utilize indoor play centers like the lookout ridge, the blast and the giggle factory. Minnesota zoo is always a hit along with the science museum. And regular visits to the gym for that childcare!

    Reply
  100. Shannon Boser

    We love spending time at our cabin in northern MN fishing, snowmobiling, and just getting out into the winter weather!

    Reply
  101. Ashley M

    I would love to take my girls, we have never been before and I can’t wait to see it! Very excited! With a new relationship This is going to be the first time our kids will meet, we thought it was the perfect environment! I’m hoping Anna & Elsa are there, my daughters love Frozen. This is going to be an amazing outdoor event for all of us! Either way we are going, was just hoping to save a few bucks along the way. Good luck everyone!!!

    Reply

  102. Pingback: Twin Cities Minnesota Festivals & Fairs - A Year-Round Family Guide - Family Fun Twin Cities

    1. Gianna Kordatzky

      If you purchase tickets for a certain time, it’s important to be there close to that time. There’s no guarantee admittance if you aren’t there at the right time.

      Reply

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