We’re so excited to present our Twin Cities Winter Family Festival Calendar – because festivals aren’t just for summer here in Minnesota! Most of our favorite winter traditions are back and ready to immerse you in the activities our snowy state is well-known for. Make sure to check back often as some winter festival information has yet to be announced. Then, bundle up and get out there! For more frosty fun, be sure to check our:
JANUARY 2023 TWIN CITIES WINTER FAMILY FESTIVALS & FUN DAYS
Open now-early March, 2023: Ice Castles
The magical Ice Castles will be held in New Brighton this year. Once inside, explore the ice palaces for as long as you’d like! Open through early March or weather permitting. Read our review of Ice Castles here. $11-$22/pp (Save 15% with promo code: FunTwinCities23)
December 9, 2022-Jan 21, 2023: Bloomington Winter Fete
Bloomington’s annual winter festival is back with fun winter activities spread out over the months of January and February. These include ice fishing lessons, a skating exhibition, medallion hunt, and festivals at Richardson Nature Center and the historic Pond House. Most events are FREE to attend!
January 6 – February 19, 2023: Winter SKOLstice at Viking Lakes
2685 Vikings Cir, Eagan, MN 55121
Activities at the winter festival include free open skate, hockey and curling on the ponds and and the large, front lawn skating rink (weather-dependent, BYO skates), and the Minnesota Ice Maze (ticketed event, $13-$26/pp). Mon-Fri, 4-10pm & Sat-Sun, 12-10pm.
January 7, 2023: Eden Prairie Winter Blast
Staring Lake Park, 14800 Pioneer Trail, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347
Sledding, ice skating (BYO skates), crafts, outdoor games, and a bonfire. 2-4:30pm, FREE admission.
January 8, 2023: Edina Winter Ice Festival
Centennial Lakes Park, 7499 France Ave S, Edina, MN 55435
Trolley rides, face painting, and skating for families – rent skates or bring your own. 1-5pm, FREE.
January 14, 2023: Vadnais Heights Winter Shindig
641 E County Road F., Vadnais Heights, MN 55127
Featuring hot chocolate, cookies, ice skating, snowshoeing, and more winter activities. 2-4pm, FREE.
January 14, 2023: Winterfest at Camp Pepin
YMCA Camp Pepin, W10915 East Lake Drive, Stockholm, WI 54769
A host of family-friendly activities including winter sports, story walk, camp fire, astronomy with Mike Lynch and chili dinner ($6-$8/pp). 1-7pm, FREE.
January 20, 2023: Eagan Frosty Festival
Eagan Community Center Festival Grounds, 1501 Central Pkwy, Eagan, MN 55121
Sled to the DJ’d music, build a snowman, enjoy hot cocoa and cookies and get some great winter photos. 5:30-7:30pm, Tickets $5 and can be purchased here.
January 21-February 12, 2023: Art Shanty Projects
4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409
Not only are these unique ice houses designed by local artists, they are strongly encouraged to be interactive and fun! Great for families with kids. Weekends only, 10am-4pm.
January 20-21, 2023: Excelsior Arctic Fever
Downtown Excelsior, MN 55331
Freeman Park, 6000 Eureka Road, Shorewood, MN 55331
Manitou Park, 5418 Manitou Road, Tonka Bay, MN 55331
Outdoor activities include sledding, sleighrides, skating and other classic winter fun, spread across three parks. Kids Coloring Contest: print, color and drop off at Excelsior Library by 1/5/22 @ 5pm. FREE admission, some activities have a fee.
January 21, 2023: Springbrook Nature Center Winterfest
100 85th Ave NW, Fridley, MN 55432
Outdoor family fun includes a medallion hunt, kick sledding, snowshoeing, fat tire biking, snow painting, a snowball launcher, storytime, bonfires, s’mores, a candy cane hunt, frozen bubbles and police K-9 demos.
January 21, 2023: White Bear Center For the Arts Winter Open House
4971 Long Ave, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Snow sculpting, dogsledding and more free activities at this winter festival for families. 1-3pm, FREE admission.
January 26 – February 5, 2023: St Paul Winter Carnival
See our Top Family Activities for this winter festival extravaganza, including family days, the favorite Vulcan Snow Park and traditional parades.
January 28, 2023: Art Sled Rally
Powderhorn Park, 3400 15th Ave. S, Minneapolis, MN 55407
Bring a sled of your own creation and race it or have fun as a spectator! 2pm, FREE.
January 28, 2023: Lake Harriet Winter Kite Festival
4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409
The fun winter festival returns with frosty activities and a partnership with the Art Shanty Projects. Featuring colorful kites and FREE s’mores by the fire to warm up throughout the day. 12-4pm, FREE admission.
January 28, 2023: Golden Valley Winterfest
Wesley Park, Wesley Drive and Orkla, Golden Valley, MN 55427
Sledding, ice skating, hayrides, DJ, and a bonfire with marshmallow roasting. 12-2pm, FREE.
January 28, 2023: St Louis Park Winter Fun Day
Oak Hill Park, 3201 Rhode Island Ave S, St Louis Park, MN 55426
Bonfires, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, cocoa, hayrides, s’mores and music are the highlights of this free community winter festival.
January 28, 2023: Wargo Nature Center Snow Day
7701 Main St, Lino Lakes, MN 55038
Try out a variety of winter outdoor activities such as snowshoeing, ice fishing, kick sledding and cross-country skiing. 1-4pm, FREE.
2023 TBA: Linden Hills Winter Fest
Horse drawn wagon rides, ice skating, music, sledding, a marshmallow roast, face painting and a medallion hunt. 6:30-8:30pm, FREE. (Cancelled the last few years)
FEBRUARY 2023 TWIN CITIES WINTER FAMILY FESTIVALS & FUN DAYS
February 3, 2023: Robbinsdale Fire & Ice
Sanborn Park, 42nd Ave N & Chowen Ave N., Robbinsdale, MN 55422
Skating party with bonfire, music, hot cocoa, and family-friendly activities! 6-8pm.
February 3, 2023: Fire & Ice at Matthews Park
Matthews Park, 2318 29th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55406
Ice Skating, hot chocolate, bonfire with marshmallows to roast. 6-8pm.
February 4-11, 2023: Coon Rapids Snowflake Days
Fun and family-friendly winter activities at this community festival include a snow sculpture contest, medallion hunt, parade, free waffle breakfast and art activities.
February 4, 2023: Scandia Vinterfest
Winter festival activities include a pancake breakfast, sledding outing and a snow sculpture contest. Gammelgarden Museum hosts kid-friendly crafts in the community center with fireworks at 7pm. FREE admission.
February 4, 2023: Chanhassen February Fest (Feb Fest)
Lake Ann Park, 1456 W 78th St, Chanhassen, MN 55317
Winter festival activities include an ice fishing contest, concessions, door prizes, and family activities. Cancelled due to ice conditions.
February 4, 2023: Crystal Winterlude
Valley Place Park, 6822 32nd Ave N, Crystal, MN 55427
This free winter festival features music and entertainment, Ice Bocce, a sledding contest, kicksledding, ice skating, and food trucks. 10am-1pm.
February 4, 2023: Fire & Ice at Luxton Park
Luxton Park, 112 SE Williams Avenue, Minneapolis MN
This winter festival’s signature draw is the huge bonfire, but there’s also food, live music and horse-drawn hayrides. 5:30-8pm, FREE.
February 3, 2024: Plymouth Fire & Ice Festival
Parkers Lake Park, 15500 County Road 6, Plymouth MN
Winter festival activities include hayrides, pony rides, recycle bin races, on-ice games, youth ice fishing contest, skating, and more. Food will be available to purchase. 3-7pm, FREE admission. (Dependent on ice conditions)
February 4, 2023: Anoka Winterfest
George Enloe Park, 631 Lund Blvd, Anoka MN
Winter fun activities to enjoy include skating, snowshoeing, skiing, kick sleds, disc golf, snowballs, and a snow hill. 12-4pm. FREE admission.
February 4, 2023: Apple Valley Mid-Winter Fest
Johnny Cake Ridge Park West, 14255 Johnny Cake Ridge Road, Apple Valley, MN
Activities include: snowshoeing, horse-drawn wagon rides, frozen kite flying, fire department open house, live music, fireworks and a scavenger hunt. There is so much to choose from at this winter festival in the Minneapolis-St Paul SE Metro.
February 4, 2023: Columbia Heights SnowBLAST
Huset Park, 40TH Ave, Columbia Heights, MN 55421
Come by for fun winter outdoor activities like ice skating on the rink (pre-register for free rentals) and sledding on the hill, free popcorn and smores, the puppet wagon, music, free hot beverages and more to purchase. 3-6:30pm.
February 4, 2023: Maple Grove Wonders of Winter
Maple Grove Central Park, 2000 Central Park Way, Maple Grove, MN 55369
Classic winter festival activities include horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoeing, a scavenger hunt, skating on the loop, s’mores, kite flying, a food truck from Rock Elm Tavern, and more. So many free winter outdoor activities!
February 4-5, 2023: City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival
Be a spectator (for free) at the races. Kids up to 12 can participate in the free MN Youth Ski League Super Carnival – loaner ski equipment provided, but limited.
February 5, 2023: Minnetonka Kids Fest
Hopkins Pavilion, 11000 Excelsior Blvd., Hopkins
Free stuff to do: dog sled rides, horse-drawn trolley rides, face painting, ice sculptures, crafts and more. 11am-2:30pm.
February 11, 2023: Burnsville Polar Fest
Civic Center Parkway, Burnsville, MN 55337
An afternoon of free winter fun including ice skating, sledding, bonfires, music & more. 11am-2pm, FREE.
February 11, 2023: Brooklyn Park Winterfest
Central Park, 8440 Regent Ave N, Brooklyn Park, MN 55429
Winterfest activities include snow art, sugar cube castles, snow fort building, a scavenger hunt, winter Storywalk, snowshoeing and ice skating. 1-3pm, FREE.
February 11, 2023: Buffalo Kites on Ice
Sturges Park, 401 Lake Blvd S, Buffalo, MN 55313
Kites fill the sky above Buffalo Lake, kite building workshop for kids, food trucks, hot chocolate and treat vendors. 11am-3pm, FREE.
February 11, 2023: Chaska Ice Gardens
Firemen’s Park, 3210 Chaska Blvd, Chaska, MN 55318
The park will be filled with ice sculptures to enjoy, plus you can go ice skating on the Clayhole. The sculptures will remain in the park while weather permits.
February 13-20, 2023: Stillwater Winterfest
Wintry highlights appropriate for families include a torch parade and fireworks over the 17-18th.
Feburary 18, 2023: Blizzard Bash at Cottage Grove Ravine Park
9653 Keats Ave S, Cottage Grove, MN 55016
Sample some fun, classic winter activities such as ice fishing, snowshoeing and kicksledding (all use of equipment free). Warm up at a bonfire and learn how to make an ice luminary. Food trucks onsite for purchase. 11am-4pm, FREE admission.
February 18, 2023: Dodge Nature Center Winter Fun Festival
1701 Charlton Street, West St. Paul, MN 55118
Live DJ, bonfires and outdoor heaters, horse-drawn sleigh rides, icy games, snow sports, nature activities and crafts. Food & beer available. 2-5pm, FREE.
February 18, 2023: Embrace the North Festival
North Mississippi Regional Park, 5116 N Mississippi Dr, Minneapolis, MN 55412
Try activities like snowshoeing, winter birding and frozen art, marshmallows over the fire, games, fat biking and more at this Twin Cities winter festival. Drop in anytime from 12-4pm.
Not scheduled for 2023
Phalen Freeze Fest
Phalen Lakeside Activities Center, 1530 Phalen Drive, Saint Paul, MN 55106
Try your hand at ice fishing, then warm up and cook s’mores over an open fire, play boot hockey and snowshoe. 1-4pm, FREE. (February 26, 2022)
Ham Lake Snow Bowl
Ham Lake Park
Snow sculptures, ice fishing, a snow hill and games for kids.
MORE WINTER OUTDOOR FAMILY FUN IDEAS
Sledding is another favorite outdoor activity in our neck of the woods. Where to find the best slopes from bunny hills to steep thrills? Check our Best Twin Cities Sledding Hills Guide.
Strapping on a pair of ice skating is one way to embrace the winter season! Hit up our ice rink-finder to seek out the free skating rinks across the Twin Cities.
Where can I ski and snowboard with the family?
TWIN CITIES YEAR-ROUND FESTIVALS AND FUN
- Check out our Twin Cities Year-Round Festival & Fairs Guide here.
- Find tons more things to do in Minneapolis & St Paul with kids!
WINTER FUN – INDOORS
- Find fun indoor games for kids when it’s chilly outside and we want to stay cozy.
- Indoor Play: Indoor Activities for Kids
Pingback: New England vs. Philly: Beyond the Super Bowl ⋆ City Living (Boston)
Funny, whenever I think of Boston, I think of the lyrics to Dismemberment Plan’s The Ice of Boston.
I think you do your share of embracing winter. Good Luck in the Super Bowl.
They are activities. This has been one of the longest, coldest winters and the cold has subsided yet as of April 30, 2023. Flying kites and sledding is cool but also really cold. Freezing cold. I do like how the events are planned and spread out all over so has an opportunity to get out and enjoy the beauty of winter, community, children at play, and laugh around the fire. ( I hope there is camp fires)
It’s too cold not to. I was gravely ill from Oct 2022 til Mar 2023. Life is short, enjoy every moment. I’ll be you at These Wonderful Events in Summer Fall & Winter 2023 & 2024. God Bless ❣️🙏
Thanks Dot.
We are also ready for spring and summer. I see the forecast is predicting 60s and 70s this coming week, and we have some great spring and summer festivals coming. I hope you can get to them!