MidwestWeekends.com — Your Travel Guide to the Upper Midwest

previous day Events for Friday, February 5, 2021 next day

  • Winter Carnival

    St. Paul, MN

    The feature this year is a drive-through ice- and snow-sculpture park at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Tickets are $20 per vehicle, $35 for theme packages, and available only in advance.

    There will also be three scavenger hunts, pop-up outdoor concerts, ice-fishing, softball and puzzle tournaments and Frozen Family Fun Night.


  • Winterfest and U.S. Snow Sculpting Championship

    Lake Geneva, WI

    In this lake town, there's music, magic shows, a human sled-dog race, ice bars and an ice castle, plus the U.S. snow-sculpting championship.


  • Winter Carnival

    Houghton, MI

    This snow fest at Michigan Tech University includes a human dog-sled race, snow volleyball and a tug of war and ends with a torchlight parade and fireworks at Mont Ripley ski hill.


  • Winter Festival

    Ely, MN

    There's a best-beard contest, snow sculpting, an arts market, fat-tire bike demos and a ride, Ely Folk School classes and a free snowshoe hike to the Hegman Petroglyphs.


  • WinterFest

    Crosslake, MN

    In this Brainerd Lakes area, there are horse-drawn sleigh rides, bonfires, ice car races, helicopter rides, Friday fireworks and Italian Outdoor Olympics.


  • Snowflake Ski-Jumping Tournament

    Westby, WI

    At the top of a hill that's the equivalent of a 41-story skyscraper, watch jumpers fly by at 55 mph. It's fun to watch because the jump is built onto the side of a coulee, and spectators can climb it and watch from the top. There are hot drinks and food at the bottom.


  • Hot Air Affair

    Hudson, WI

    There will be geocaching, bird-watching, a fat-tire bike race, a corn-hole tournament and drive-through moon glows.

    Other events will be virtual.


  • Knickerbocker Ice Festival

    Lake Mills, WI

    The festival in this town east of Madison includes such events as a fish toss, snowball-eating contest, dad-sled race, chili cook-off and Iceberg Open golf tournament. There's ice carving and ice wine, too.


  • City of Lakes Loppet

    Minneapolis, MN

    For recreational skiers, the highlight of this big cross-country ski festival are the nightly Luminary Loppets on Lake of the Isles, with glowing ice pillars and "ruins.'' 

    There are also classical and free-style races, orienteering, fat-tire, snowshoeing and skijoring races in Theodore Wirth Park, location of most events.

     

     

     


  • Candlelight ski/snowshoe/hike

    Around the region,

    There's nothing better than skiing (or snowshoeing or hiking) through a twinkling forest or across a luminary-lined lake. There's usually a bonfire and hot chocolate to enjoy afterward.


  • Magical Ice Fest

    St. Joseph, MI

    Watch the pros carve sculptures in this Lake Michigan town. There's also entertainment, a scavenger hunt and magic and crafts for kids.