Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season and have had a little time to catch your breath while shoveling out from this most recent snowstorm. Winter is a glorious time in Minnesota, and there’s always something to do in this winter wonderland, there’s also a lot of fun family friendly events in the Twin Cities this January 2023 that takes place indoors too.
January is when the St Paul Winter Carnival begins and it looks like this will be a great year for the carnival. From the infamous Medallion Hunt to ice fishing tournaments, and the Vulcan Snow Park, there’s something for everyone.
January is also the beginning of Home Improvement season. If you’re thinking of remodeling your home now is a great time to start getting ideas for the renovations you want to do. We’ll be attending the National Association of Home Builders International Builders’ Show this February in Las Vegas. The whole team will be attending, something we haven’t done since before Covid. We’re looking forward to a little fun in the sun, but also can’t wait to see what’s new in home building and remodeling. Stay tuned as we’ll be updating as we go.
Events in the Twin Cities this January 2023
When: Saturdays through February 25, 2023
Where: Twin City Model Railroad Museum
668 Transfer Road, Suite 8
Saint Paul, MN
The museum’s collection of model trains of all scales and toy trains of yesteryear come alive throughout the MuseumNight Trains Season magic begins as the lights are turned down and the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of operating vintage passenger trains. The make believe town of Matlin is buried in a blizzard, and throughout the Museum the layouts are adorned with miniature Christmas lights and decorations.
When: January 6 – March 6, 2023
Where: Long Lake Regional Park
1500 Old Highway 8
New Brighton, MN
Back again January 2023! Tickets go on sale November 28th.
Don’t miss your moment. Your moment of imagination, exploration, and magic awaits at Ice Castles. Escape into a world of ice caves, frozen waterfalls, and glaciers formed into archways, caverns and tunnels.
Time is limited, but memories last forever. Make them magical. Freeze Time.
Dates and hours are weather dependent. Closed on Tuesdays.
When: January 6 – 15, 2023
Where: Mall of America
Bloomington, MN
A new exhibition at Mall of America brings the treasures of the Louvre to life. The innovative, unique, and interactive experience invites art lovers to see famous works in a whole new way with three-dimensional re-creations, projection mapping, augmented reality, and hands-on interactive features.
When: January 6, 2023
Where: Minnesota Landscape Arboretum
3675 Arboretum Dr
Chaska, MN
Come howl at the Full Wolf Moon during this special snowshoe-after-dark event at the Arb. It’s thought that January’s full moon came to be known as the Wolf Moon because wolves were more likely to be heard howling at this time of the year.
In honor of the Wolf Moon, Bob Ebsen with the Wildlife Science Center (opens in new window) will be presenting on his team’s ongoing work with Minnesota gray wolves in the MacMillan Auditorium from 5:30-6:30 pm.
All evening long, a self-guided snowshoe path along Wood Duck Pond will be groomed and lit with tealights for everyone to enjoy. Along the way, warm up around one of the multiple bonfires in the Frog Hollow parking lot and roast a marshmallow.
Also joining us, Pete Miller, owner of The Lakes Running Co (opens in new window) and Rick Thompson from Crescent Moon Snowshoes (opens in new window). Pete and Rick will be able to answer all of your snowshoe questions. They will have snowshoes for you to try out as well as some for purchase.
When: January 6 – February 19, 2023
Where: Viking Lakes
2685 Viking Circle
Eagan, MN
The Minnesota Ice Maze is coming to Eagan’s very own Viking Lakes! Taking place during the amazing annual event, Winter SKOLstice, this year’s maze will be comprised of 1 million pounds of ice and half a mile of passages. Enjoy the true Minnesota Ice Maze experience with ice thrones, weekend theme nights, scavenger hunts, fire pits, hot chocolate, s’mores, an ice bar, and much more.
Other Winter SKOLstice installations will include pond hockey, curling, a Warming Haus with food, beverages and more.
When: January 13 – February 12, 2023
Where: Stages Theatre Company
111 Mainstreet
Hopkins, MN
An expansive portrayal of the endless potential in us all!
A dance-inspired, original musical about the magical, immeasurable possibilities that make up who we are and what we can do. From the award-winning author of What Do You Do with An Idea? comes the story of everything that makes us unique.
In collaboration with Escalate Theatre & Dance Studio
Murder Mystery Masquerade Ball
When: January 13, 2023
Where: AxeBridge Wine Co
411 Washington Ave N
Minneapolis, MN
Get ready for a glamorous evening of mystery, intrigue and murder at this masquerade ball. Help get the party back on track by trading clues, gathering information and solving the crime before the masked menace gets away!
Real actors provided by the Murder Mystery Company lead the event and perform scenes throughout the event.
This night out is accompanied with a culinary adventure. We’ll have passed apps, the fresh pasta bar of your dreams crafted by chef Bryan & an assortment of desserts.
World Snow Sculpting Championship
When: January 18-23, 2023
Where: Downtown Stillwater
201 Water Street N
Stillwater, MN
Stillwater is honored to host the 2023 World Snow Sculpting Championship competition sanctioned by the Association Internationale de Sculpture sur Neige et Glace based in Finland. Teams from around the world will travel to Stillwater, Minnesota to create amazing snow sculptures while competing for prize money and the title of the World Champion. This will be a judged event and will include social events, activities, ceremonies, the people’s choice award, and will be fun for the whole family. Stay tuned for more information – keep checking back for updates and additional details.
Note: This event is weather dependent, watch the website and social media for updates. Sculpting team appearances are subject to change or cancel at any time due to the unpredictable nature of the COVID pandemic. We are confident that despite any unexpected changes, this event will be successful and provide a quality family experience for the City of Stillwater and all that attend.
U.S. Pond Hockey Championships
When: January 19-29, 2023
Where: Lake Nokomis
4885 Cedar Ave
Minneapolis, MN
The annual outdoor hockey tournament returns to Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis. Hundreds of teams formed from NHL legends, high school greats, and neighborhood stars compete for the Golden Shovel.
When: January 25 – February 5, 2023
Where: Minneapolis & St. Paul
Various Locations
Embrace winter at its wintry finest! At The Great Northern, a 10-day winter celebration across Minneapolis and Saint Paul, visitors and locals alike will find amazing winter sports to spectate like pond hockey, skijoring, and fat-tire bike racing along with ice and snow sculpture competitions. Not to mention food-focused events featuring our thriving culinary community, outdoor concerts, and more.
This annual celebration brings together legacy festivals, including the City of Lakes Loppet Ski Festival, where cross-country skiing competitions excite and ice luminaries delight, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, where kings and snow queens add to the magic of the season, and the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships (opens in new window), where locals and players around the world show off their skills on Lake Nokomis.
These legacy events along with original, uniquely North programming are largely free to attend. So bundle up, get outside, and leave the hibernating to the bears!
When: January 26 – February 5, 2023
Where: Various locations in St Paul, MN
Join us for the 137th Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the “Coolest Celebration on Earth” since 1886.
The Winter Carnival continues to bring family-friendly events and community pride to Saint Paul and the Twin Most activities Cities metro area.
Dozens of free events, both traditional favorites and new attractions, will entertain those of all ages. Most events take place in downtown Saint Paul, in and around Rice Park and Landmark Center, as well as at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
The Saint Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation manages and produces the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
