The Great Northern Festival
Get ready for The Great Northern this winter. Ten days of frosty outdoor events, music and performances, public art, and dining experiences.
Chilly days find Minnesotans rosy-cheeked, bundled up, and eager to enjoy the outdoors. Couch dwellers, we are not. With a full line-up of winter events and some serious FOMO (fear of missing out), we make sure to get out there and experience the winter wonderland that encapsulates us for a few months out of the year. We can’t wait for another year of The Great Northern festival, which celebrates the beauty of the North and the excitement of winter. Check out the schedule of events.
When: January 25 - February 5, 2023
Where: Various locations
This year will highlight three big events (among many smaller activities). Events bundled up in the Great Northern Festival include:
U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
When: January 19-29, 2023
Where: Lake Nokomis
Playing hockey the way it's meant to be played, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships claims the title of the nation's premier outdoor hockey tournament. The strictly amateur, just-for-fun tournament brings out the best pond hockey players all of over the country to compete in our state's favorite sport. Learn more about how to participate or watch from the sidelines.
U.S. Pond Hockey Championship, by BLK WLF Photography
U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
City of Lakes Loppet
When: February 4-5, 2023
Where: Bde Maka Ska, Theodore Wirth Park & Lake of the Isles
A cross-country ski festival for the whole family! Ski races for all ages, skill-levels, and abilities. Be sure to experience other fun events like the Minne-Loppet, skijoring, dog sledding, and don't miss out on the popular Luminary Loppet on February 18.
The Luminary Loppet returns to Uptown this year. Enjoy “the most magical event of the season” and walk, snowshoe, or ski on the candlelit trail winding across Lake of the Isles. Experience 1,200 luminaries lining the trail. The Luminary Loppet is not a race – enjoy a night out with family and friends!
City of Lakes Loppet, by Krivit Photography
Luminary Loppet, by BLK WLF Photography
Saint Paul Winter Carnival
When: January 26 - February 5, 2023
Where: Various locations
This year's Saint Paul Winter Carnival will feature a Torchlight Parade, snow park, multi-block ice carving competition, ice fishing tournament, Fireworks in Rice Park and more family-friendly special events and fun activities.
Most activities are free and open to the public, take place in downtown Saint Paul, the Landmark Center, and at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds, see all the events planned for this year.
St. Paul Winter Carnival, by BLK WLF Photography
St. Paul Winter Carnival, by BLK WLF Photography
More Great Northern Events:
The Great Northern celebrates our cold, creative winters through 10 days of diverse programming that invigorate mind and body. In an era of changing climate that threatens our signature season, festival programming seeks to create community, inspire action, and share the resilient spirit of the North with the world. The 2023 festival features more than 50 performances, art installations, outdoor activations, and solutions-focused climate talks. For a full list of events, take a look at the Great Northern's event calendar. Here are just a few we think you should check out:
January 25 | 6 - 9pm
Surly Brewing Beer Garden (outside)
Kick off The Great Northern with a "festival eve" winter village at Surly Brewing Beer Garden.
January 26 - February 5
The Market at Malcolm Yards
A social and therapeutic experience held this year at Malcolm Yards in Minneapolis, The Great Northern Sauna Village invites visitors to immerse themselves in sauna culture by interacting with thermaculture first-hand during the festival’s run in deep winter.
January 27-28
The Cowles Center
Bharatanatyam choreographer and dancer Ashwini Ramaswamy reinterprets Italo Calvino’s metaphysical novel through interwoven cultural perspectives and interactive projections created live by internationally-renowned visual artist Kevork Mourad.
January 28 | 8 pm
Orchestra Hall
The Minnesota Orchestra marks the 2023 Lunar New Year, and the Year of the Rabbit, with a performance featuring music that honors family traditions and themes of unity and health.
January 30 | 5 pm
Glass House
Join us for food collective K’óoben’s 5th pop-up experience, featuring guest chefs who will explore what it means to be crafting and cooking food in the middle of winter in Minnesota—plus specialty beverage pairings, and live music.
