Winter Events and Things to Do in Twin Cities

Minnesota is known for its cold and long winter season. But, don’t let the weather slow you down. There are numerous events and happenings in the Twin Cities during the winter that keep you active.

Join us exploring the Twin Cities this winter!  

Gingerbread Wonderland

Can you imagine a room full of decorated gingerbread? Yes, it does exist! Norway House in Minneapolis creates a Gingerbread Wonderland of Twin City buildings and landmarks made out of Gingerbread. The exhibit opens from November 21, 2017 through January 7, 2018. For more about the event, please visit Norway House.

Winter Carnival – Giant Snow Slide

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival has been ongoing since 1886 and it is considered one of oldest carnivals in the USA.  The carnival that should not be missed when you live in the Twin Cities. This year the carnival will be extended to coincide with other Super Bowl activities from January 25 to February 10, 2018. It is reported that there will be for a giant snow slide at the state fairgrounds during the carnival. Wow, that means 17 winter days of snow slide fun! The schedule of the Giant Snow Slide is available here: Giant Snow Slide Schedule.

Winter Carnival – Snow Sculpture

One of popular events in the annual winter carnival is Minnesota’s snow sculpting competition. It is a state level competition and the snow sculpting team who wins the race will represent Minnesota at the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition. Visitors are welcome to view the sculptors and their teams do the sculpting. The event starts January 26 and goes to February 11 in Vulcan Snow Park. Finished sculptures are lit after dark and remain on display for the duration of Vulcan Snow Park—or until they collapse. Come early and don’t wait until they collapse! The complete schedule of the event can be found here: Snow Sculpture in Vulcan Snow Park.

Winter Kite Festival

2018 will be the 16th year for the Winter Kite Festival on frozen Lake Harriet. Kites of all shapes, sizes and colors will fly above the lake on January 28, 2017. Minnesota Kite Society experts will demonstrate maneuvering spectacular kites throughout the day, and offer their expertise to kite flying enthusiasts. For more about the event visit Winter Kite Festival at Lake Harriet.

Visit the Frozen Minnehaha Waterfalls

The 53-foot-high waterfall, Minnehaha, is one of the most popular waterfalls in the United States. The falls originated about 12,000 years ago as water drained from a giant lake formed by the meltwater of glaciers. Today the water flows through the Minnesota River and a portion of the Mississippi River. Minnesota’s cold winters often cause the Minnehaha Falls to freeze over and it’s an amazing phenomenon.

How to survive a Minnesota winter

Winter in Minnesota can be very cold with lots of snow. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for the winter in Minnesota.

• Dress in layers for warmth.
• Wear clothes made of wool instead of cotton.
• Wear a hat.
• Wear mittens instead of gloves.
• Keep your feet and hands dry.
• Be careful when walking on icy or snowy sidewalks.
• Drive slowly on icy or snowy roads. 
• Traffic will be slower when it snows. Give yourself more time to get to work, school or other places.
• Watch the weather report on the local news.
• Check WCCO (channel 4) on the TV or radio for school closings when it snows.
• Get your home ready for winter by covering windows and checking your furnace and smoke detectors.
• Learn how to ice skate, snowshoe or ski. With these activities, you can enjoy being outdoors during the winter months.

Watch this winter safety video from Emergency and Community Health Outreach (ECHO). The video is available in English, Spanish, Hmong, Somali, Vietnamese, Lao, and Khmer.