Holiday Fantasy in Lights
Madison, WI
The free display in Olin Park is open from dusk to dawn.
Holiday Lights Festival
Milwaukee, WI
The season-long lights festival includes more than 500,000 lights throughout downtown's parks and streets.
ZooLights
Chicago, IL
The annual display of 2.5 million lights at the Lincoln Park Zoo is operating at 25 percent capacity this year and charging $5 per person. Tickets are available for timed slots between 4 and 9 p.m.; on Nov. 24 and Dec. 9, 17, 21 and 29, tickets are free (available at 4 p.m. the previous Sunday).
Lakeside Park Holiday Lights
Fond du Lac, WI
This free light show on Lake Winnebago includes animated scenes and trees that dance to 20 minutes of music played on 87.9 FM (you can listen on your car radio).
Vintage World Championship Snowmobile Derby
Eagle River, WI
Vintage snowmobiles race in this northeast Wisconsin town.
Janboree
Waukesha, WI
The fest in this Milwaukee suburb includes Friday-night fireworks, ice sculpting, Ojibwe snow-snake games, ice bocce, a penguin-egg hunt and tobogganing on the lighted run in Lowell Park.
Bald Eagle Watching Days
Prairie du Sac, WI
This town along the Wisconsin River, next to a hydroelectric plant, offers guided bus tours, live birds of prey programs and kids' activities.
This year, the festival is virtual, with some live programs and some pre-recorded.
Bald Eagle Appreciation Days
Keokuk, IA
In this Mississippi River town, there's live-eagle presentations, Native American activities, demonstrations and viewing on the river.
This year, all indoor activities will be virtual.
Back to Hack Winter Festival
Hackensack, MN
The festival in this Brainerd Lakes town on the Paul Bunyan State Trail features snow sculpting, an ice-fishing contest, penguin plunge, kids' games and Saturday fireworks.
Ice Fest
Dubuque, IA
The National Mississippi River Museum hosts this indoor-outdoor festival, which includes ice-harvest and ice-rescue demonstrations, snow sculpting, a live-raptor program and youth ice fishing.
Wisconsin Free Fishing Weekend
All over the state, WI
No license is needed for fishing in Wisconsin or on its side of the Mississippi River and lakes Superior and Michigan.
Take a Kid Ice Fishing Weekend
All of Minnesota, MN
Take a kid younger than 16 spear- or ice-fishing this holiday weekend, and you can fish for free.
Winterfest
Amana, IA
Go on a wine walk or scavenger hunt or compete in ham-throwing, log-sawing, wreath-tossing, the Amana Freezer Run/Walk, snowshoeing or for the best beard. There will be ice sculptures, storytelling and schnitzel-sampling, too.
Winterfest
Mackinaw City, MI
In this town on the Mackinac Straits, there's a snow-sculpting competition, sleigh rides, a poker run and outhouse races.
Winter Games
Lake Okoboji, IA
This resort area in northwest Iowa will offer human sled races, flag football on ice, indoor golf, snowball drop, stein-holding, horse-drawn carriage rides, a Freeze Yer Fanny Bike Ride, keg toss and fireworks.
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.
Lake Superior Ice Festival
Superior, WI
On Barker's Island, there's a snow slide, ice carving, Kubb games, disc golf, ice racing, kids' activities and fireworks on Saturday.
Schnee Days
Elkhart Lake, WI
The Snow Days festival in this town in east-central Wisconsin includes such activities as a hunt for colored ice cubes, dog sledding and a chili cook-off.
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.
Fire & Ice Winter Social
Stillwater, MN
In this St. Croix river town, there will be hot-air balloons, an ice-cream social, ice sculptures, music, bags and pond-hockey tournaments and a beer tent.
Groundhog Days
Woodstock, IL
The 1993 movie "Groundhog Day'' was filmed in this town an hour northwest of Chicago, and it celebrates with trivia and tours of movie sites, including the 1889 Opera House, where actor Bill Murray jumped from the belfry. At 7 a.m. Tuesday, Woodstock Willie will look for his shadow.
Frostival
Moorhead, MN
The first Saturday, there will be a birding festival, cardboard-sled races, a Hunger Games-themed snowball fight and a skate social.
Events on the second Saturday include snow-sculpture and disc-golf competitions, games, snowga and free ski and snowshoe rentals.
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.
Norge Ski Jumping Tournament
Fox River Grove, IL
See some of the nation's best jumpers compete in this northwest Chicago suburb, which has produced several Olympians.
John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
Duluth, MN
From Duluth, marathon mushers travel to to Grand Portage and mid-distance racers to Tofte.
Spectators are not allowed this year but can follow the race at WDIO.com or MushingMidwest.com.