We’re so excited to present our Twin Cities, Minnesota, Winter Festival Calendar for families – because festivals aren’t just for summer in this state! 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:
- Twin Cities January Family Events Guide
- Twin Cities February Family Events Guide
- Twin Cities Ultimate Winter Fun Guide
January 2027 Twin Cities winter festivals & fun days
GLOW Holiday Festival
Date: 11/19/2026 - 01/03/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: CHS Field, 360 Broadway Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55101
CHS Field is GLOW headquarters for the holiday season! Grab a map and follow the walking trail of dazzling holiday decorations and lights plus a meet with Santa, a thrilling slide and zip line ride, a s’mores station, concessions and more. 5-9pm. Tickets: $12.75-$22 .75/pp. Starts November 19 2026.
Winter SKOLstice at Viking Lakes
Date: 11/20/2026 - 01/02/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: Viking Lakes, 2685 Vikings Circle, Eagan, MN, 55121
Winter SKOLstice at Viking Lakes, Eagan, is a collective celebration of the season of ice and snow in Minnesota. Find here a hub of both chilly and cozy entertainment: free outdoor ice skating, hockey, an ice maze and drive-thru holiday lights display alongside a comfortable Warming Haus with hot drinks, snacks, live music and other pastimes. The winter festival is held on the site of the Minnesota Vikings training facility. See the link for all the extra details and special event schedule! Full event runs November 20, 2026-January 2, 2027.
St Louis Park Bundled Up! Winter Fun Day (FREE)
Date: 01/04/2027 - 01/30/2027 12:00 pm - 3:30 pm
Location: Oak Hill Park, 3201 Rhode Island Ave S, St Louis Park, MN, 55426
If the weather agrees, St Louis Park’s Bundled Up! Winter Fun Day includes bonfires, skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, cocoa, hayrides, s’mores and music. Admission is free, all ages are welcome.
World Snow Celebration & Sculpting Championships
Date: 01/10/2027 - 01/16/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: Lowell Park, 201 Water St N, Stillwater, MN, 55082
The public is invited to watch the sculptors at work starting Wednesday with the awards and closing ceremony scheduled for Saturday. During the run of the festival, kids can enjoy a snow slide and, weather permitting, a small, free ice skating rink. There are deals all weekend at area shops and restaurants with a festival button.
Art Shanty Projects (FREE)
Date: 01/16/2027 - 02/07/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: Lake Harriet Park, 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55409
Art Shanty Projects is an annual pop up festival mixing art with us hardy, lake-loving Minnesotans. The public is invited to bundle up and venture onto frozen Lake Harriet to explore these unique icehouses designed by local artists. Weekends only, January 16-February 7, 2027. Admission is free; donations are how the event stays running.
Richardson Ice Harvesting Day (FREE)
Date: 01/23/2027 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location: Richardson Nature Center, 8737 E Bush Lake Rd, Bloomington, MN, 55438
At Bloomington’s Ice Harvesting Day, learn how ice was traditionally harvested as part of the city’s annual winter festival. Cut and weigh ice blocks, try a kicksled, learn how food was historically preserved and more icy activities. Dress for Minnesota winter on ice. Activities on the ice are weather dependent and will be modified for safety. Note: this is a free, very popular event.
St. Paul Winter Carnival
Date: 01/28/2027 - 02/07/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Multiple locations, Saint Paul, MN, 55102
Fun, frosty traditions abound at the spirited and historic Saint Paul Winter Carnival, spread over 10 days in January and February! Highlights include the ice sculptures in Rice Park, Ice Castles and Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fairgrounds, signature parades and days sprinkled with free family activities – see our full schedule.
February 2027 Twin Cities winter festivals & fun days
Art Shanty Projects (FREE)
Date: 01/16/2027 - 02/07/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: Lake Harriet Park, 4135 W Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN, 55409
Art Shanty Projects is an annual pop up festival mixing art with us hardy, lake-loving Minnesotans. The public is invited to bundle up and venture onto frozen Lake Harriet to explore these unique icehouses designed by local artists. Weekends only, January 16-February 7, 2027. Admission is free; donations are how the event stays running.
St. Paul Winter Carnival
Date: 01/28/2027 - 02/07/2027 SEE TIMES
Location: Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Multiple locations, Saint Paul, MN, 55102
Fun, frosty traditions abound at the spirited and historic Saint Paul Winter Carnival, spread over 10 days in January and February! Highlights include the ice sculptures in Rice Park, Ice Castles and Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fairgrounds, signature parades and days sprinkled with free family activities – see our full schedule.
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
We would love to have our WinterFest include next year!
1st Saturday in December each year, this year is our 5th year.
Thank you for the consideration!
Courtney Wiest
Hi Courtney: We include Winterfest on our Twin Cities Holiday Festivals List, which covers November and December festivals. This list includes events in January, February and early March.
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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!