{"id":23326,"date":"2023-11-15T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/?p=23326"},"modified":"2023-11-12T13:32:52","modified_gmt":"2023-11-12T19:32:52","slug":"minnesota-winter-a-guide-to-snowy-cultural-festivities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/daytripper28.com\/minnesota-winter-a-guide-to-snowy-cultural-festivities\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Winter: A Guide to Snowy Cultural Festivities"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

You\u2019re in for a frosty treat! Minnesota\u2019s winter wonders aren\u2019t just about braving the cold; they\u2019re about embracing it with a flurry of cultural festivities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feel the thrill of the Holiday Light Shows, clash sticks at the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, revel in the historic Saint Paul Winter Carnival, cheer on mushers at the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, and bask in the glow of The Great Northern Festival.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Get ready to experience Minnesota\u2019s winter like never before!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Holiday Light Shows<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each December, and let\u2019s face it, November too, towns all over Minnesota light up the sky with Holiday Light Spectacles<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This magical time of year is perfect to head out and see some of these holiday light shows, each with millions of lights, lit to music. My favorite is always Glow in St Paul<\/a>. It’s a holiday tradition!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to the lights, you can also expect to find hot chocolate, carolers, sledding and so much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a great way to ease into the holiday spirit and start to get excited for all things winter! <\/p>\n\n\n

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\"Glow<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

<\/a>U.S. Pond Hockey Championships<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After soaking in the parade\u2019s festive spirit, you\u2019ll find that the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships<\/a> on Lake Nokomis offer an equally exhilarating blend of athleticism and tradition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Watch teams battle it out on the shimmering ice. You\u2019re not just a spectator; you\u2019re a part of this storied event, where the spirit of hockey pulses like the heartbeat of winter itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, it\u2019s about the love of the game, the sound of skates carving ice, and the puck gliding into makeshift goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re free to roam the snowy banks, cheer on your favorites, and revel in the joyous camaraderie that only a true Minnesotan winter can foster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This event happens every January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Saint Paul Winter Carnival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Continuing your winter adventure, you\u2019ll next want to experience the Saint Paul Winter Carnival<\/a>, a vibrant celebration brimming with ice sculptures, parades, and live entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walk through a frosty wonderland, where skilled artists transform blocks of ice into shimmering masterpieces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll feel the buzz of excitement as you join the crowds lining the streets for the glittering parades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t just stand shivering on the sidelines\u2014dive into the fun! Try your hand at ice skating, or savor the thrill of a snow slide. Take part in the beard-growing competition, Ice fishing, or even puzzle building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the last weekend of January and the first weekend of February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"St<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While you\u2019re still buzzing from the energy of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, don\u2019t miss the thrill of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The race is a qualifier for the Ididertion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Witness teams of mushers and their dogs racing across the snowy Minnesota landscape. This isn\u2019t just a sport; it\u2019s a testament to endurance, partnership, and the wild spirit that thrives in the heart of winter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a call to the wild, an echo of Minnesota\u2019s storied past, and a celebration of the freedom found in the great outdoors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embrace the adventure, and let your soul run alongside the untamed energy of this iconic race the last weekend of January.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you can’t make the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon, you can’ also catch the Klondike Dog Debry<\/a> in Excelsior<\/a>, the first week of February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Klondike<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>The Great Northern Festival<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you leave the exhilaration of the John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon behind, you\u2019ll find the Great Northern Festival<\/a> offers a vibrant tapestry of art, music, and community events that celebrate the region\u2019s wintry charm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bundle up and dive into a world where ice sculptures glisten under twinkling lights, and folk melodies mingle with the crisp night air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, freedom means embracing the cold, turning breath into clouds, and laughter into echoes across snowy expanses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With performing arts, outdoor activities, food, and drink, you\u2019ll have a great time the last week of January.<\/p>\n\n\n