There’s something in the air in Minnesota today. It may have nipped at your nose when you walked outside, or seeped into your toes after a long walk. It’s winter! Today marks the first day of The Great Northern, a new collaborative winter experience designed to bring the people of Saint Paul and Minneapolis together to embrace the cold and celebrate winter in the great outdoors.

Founded by event leaders from the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships, the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival and Eric Dayton of Askov Finlayson, The Great Northern is a 10-day celebration of outdoor events spotlighting iconic Minnesota traditions, original food and arts programming and much more.

The Great Northern was created to help reposition Minnesota’s most famous season from a liability and something we apologize for to one of our greatest assets. The legacy winter experiences we look forward to every year, combined with new exciting programming across Saint Paul and Minneapolis, truly celebrate Minnesota’s unique offerings and cement the state’s reputation as a national destination for winter activity.

Raise a mitten if you’re in for some serious winter fun. With something for everyone, take a look at the events below, text your friends and get out there. For a complete calendar of events, check out TheGreatNorthernFestival.com. See you out there! 

Thursday, January 12 – Sunday, February 19

Fire & Ice: A Winter Carnival Art Show
A special exhibition of creations from more than 75 local artists. More information here.
Date: Thursday, January 12 – Sunday, February 19
Location: AZ Gallery, 308 Prince Street, Saint Paul
Time: Thursday and Friday, 5 – 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Thursday, January 26 – Sunday, January 29

Saint Paul Winter Carnival Ice Carving Contest in Rice Park
One of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival’s signature events, these beautiful ice carving masterpieces are created by area artists. Viewing starts at the beginning of the competition and goes through Saturday, February 4.
Date: Thursday, January 26 – Sunday, January 29
Location: Rice Park
Time: Multi-Block Competition: 7 p.m. Thursday, January 26 – 7 p.m. Saturday, January 28
Individual Block Competition: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Sunday, January 29
Cost: Free

Friday, January 27 – Sunday, January 29

Hard Rock Café and Labatt Blue Blue Zone at the U.S. Pond Hockey Tournament
Fans and players at the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships can kick back at the Hard Rock Café and stop by the Labatt Blue Blue Zone, voted one of the ‘World’s Best Hockey Bars.’
Time: Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Location: Lake Nokomis
Tickets: Free, food and beverage available for purchase

Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Contest
The competition begins on Friday, January 27 at 8 a.m. and ends Sunday, January 29 at 1 p.m., with viewing available through Saturday, February 4. For more information, please visit MNSnowPark.com.
Date: Friday, January 27 – Sunday, January 29
Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds
Time: 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
Cost: Free 

Saturday, January 28 – Sunday, January 29

2017 Winter Jazz Festival
The 2017 Winter Jazz Festival is an outdoor music festival across Saint Paul. For more information, please visit TwinCitiesJazzFestival.com.
Date: Saturday, January 28 – Sunday, January 29
Location: St. Paul Hotel, Street Space at TPT, Vieux Carre, Golden’s Lowertown, Black Dog Café, and Rice Park
Time: Performances start at 5 p.m. Saturday, January 28, see website for complete schedule
Cost: $15

Sunday, January 29

B-Lectric Presented by Northern Lights.mn and Barbette
Northern Lights.mn and French bistro, Barbette, are teaming up to bring custom ice walls, light-based art and much more to Uptown for one night only. For details, please visit http://www.blectricnorth.com/.
Date: Sunday, January 29
Location: Barbette, 1600 W Lake St., Minneapolis, MN
Time: 4:30 – 9 p.m., projections begin at 5:30 p.m.
Cost: Free

Monday, January 30

A Winter Table from The Bachelor Farmer, Spoon and Stable, and Meritage
The Bachelor Farmer’s Paul Berglund and Spoon and Stable’s Gavin Kaysen will present an elegant seven-course outdoor dining experience, complete with luminaries, bonfires, and more.
Date: Monday, January 30 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: North First Street in the North Loop neighborhood of Minneapolis
Tickets: $395 (incl. all tax, gratuity, valet and beverage pairings), to purchase, visit: TheBachelorFarmer.com 

Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 5 

Living Banners and Words for Winter Presented by Northern Lights.mn with support from The Minneapolis Foundation and the Downtown Improvement District
The Minneapolis Foundation and the Downtown Council team up with Northern Spark to bring two poetry-inspired installations, Living Banners by Piotr Szyhalski and Words for Winter, to the Nicollet Mall. The word-laden works will kick off with a spectacular recorded sound and light show in Peavey Plaza on January 30.
Date: Monday, January 30 – Friday, February 5
Location: Nicollet Mall
Time: All day. Sound and light shows on January 30 are hourly, starting at 5:20 p.m. Final showing at 8:20 p.m.
Cost: Free 

Tuesday, January 31

Saint Paul Winter Carnival Frozen Family Fun Night
Frozen Family Fun Night features live music from Koo Koo Kanga Roo, visits from the Saint Paul Mounted Police, Winter Carnival Junior Royalty, and more.
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Location: Rice Park
Tickets: Free, food and beverage available for purchase 

Saint Paul Chef’s Experience from Saint Dinette, Revival, and Corner Table
Join Chef Thomas Boemer of Corner Table and Revival, and Chef Adam Eaton of Saint Dinette for a French Canadian-inspired, outdoor winter feast. Craft beverages available for purchase from master minds Tim Niver, Laurel Elm, and Nick Rancone.
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Saint Paul Farmers Market
Tickets: $30 (incl. entry, tax and food), to purchase, visit: EventBrite.com/TheGreatNorthern 

Wednesday, February 1

Ice to Spice Boca Chica Restaurante y Cantina and El Burrito Mercado Present Cinco Night in Rice Park
Cinco de Mayo takes over Rice Park, where guests can enjoy authentic tamales, elotes, a jalapeno eating contest and live music.
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Location: Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Rice Park
Tickets: Free, food and beverage available for purchase

Surly Kraftskivan from Brewer’s Table and Heirloom, featuring 612 Sauna Society
Surly’s Executive Chef Jorge Guzman and Wyatt Evans of Saint Paul’s Heirloom host a wintery outdoor Kraftskivan crayfish party at Surly Brewing Co. Guests can also experience the nation’s first community-owned mobile sauna, courtesy of 612 Sauna Society.
Time: 6 – 9 p.m.
Location: Surly Brewing Co. Beer Garden
Tickets: Free, food and beverage available on-site and for pre-purchase here. 

Wednesday, February 1 – Saturday, February 4

The Frozen Film Festival
Presented by the Saint Paul Film Festival, the Second Annual Frozen Film Festival celebrates independent film, while enhancing the global recognition of Saint Paul as an artistic center for the Midwest. More information at STPFF.com.
Date: Wednesday, February 1 – Saturday, February 4
Location: Weyerhaeuser Auditorium and TPT Street Space
Time: Screening times can be found here
Cost: VIP Passes to attend any film or festival event are $99, but individual tickets are also available

Thursday, February 2

“Not Your Father’s” Happy Hour
Enjoy a Not Your Father’s Root Beer or Ginger Ale, beer, or wine, while Saint Paul’s own Black Market BBQ will be serving up Not Your Father’s Root Beer glazed ribs and live music from White Iron Band.
Time: 5 – 8 p.m.
Location:  Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Rice Park
Tickets: Free, food and beverage available for purchase 

Friday, February 3 – Sunday, February 5 

Surly Beer Garden & Food Trucks
Fans and participants can enjoy a Surly Beer and grab a bite to eat from a selection of local food trucks in the Loppet Village during the three-day City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival.
Time: Friday, 5 – 9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: Loppet Village Area
Tickets: Free festival, food and beverage available for purchase 

Saturday, February 4

The 8^th Annual Beer Dabbler Winter Carnival
Minnesota’s biggest outdoor beer festival is an annual tradition, complete with craft beer from 120+ breweries, live music, gourmet meat and cheese showcase from Lunds and Byerlys, and local food trucks.
Time: 2:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds
Tickets: 21+ event, to purchase tickets, visit: BeerDabbler.com

Luminary Loppet
Lake of the Isles will be transformed into a luminary wonderland for participants to ski, snowshoe, or stroll around to see hundreds of luminaries and ice structures, before heading to the REI Luminary Party.
Date: Saturday, February 4
Location: Lake of the Isles
Time: 6 p.m.
Cost: $26/adult and $12/youth through January 31, $30/adult and $20/youth through February 4. Register here.

Post-Luminary Party
Luminary Loppet participants displaying their glow stick can enjoy a live outdoor concert—with Surly beer and a selection of local food trucks.
Time: 7 – 10 p.m.
Location: Lagoon between Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles
Tickets: Concert/Party is free for Luminary Loppet participants displaying their glow stick, $10 for everyone else. Food and beverage available for purchase. More Information.

For more information about The Great Northern, visit TheGreatNorthernFestival.com and connect with The Great Northern on Facebook and Instagram @TheGreatNorthernFestival, and on Twitter @GreatNorthern.