There’s always something to do in the Twin Cities, and the winter months are no different! We’re here to help you keep your sanity by bringing these activities all together in one easy guide. In 2017, we’re bringing you our monthly event guides so you don’t miss a thing! This is month #1! We’ll update with new additions as they come.
January 1: Free Family Fun Days: Owls @ Richardson Nature Center | 3-4pm Explore a different topic each week through hands-on activities that everyone can enjoy at their own pace. Drop in anytime. FREE.
January 1: North Woods Girl StoryWalk | Noon-5pm Go on a wintery journey through the History Center following giant storybook pages from “North Woods Girl,” a MNHS Press book written by Aimee Bissonette and illustrated by Claudia McGehee.
January 6-7: Land O’ Lakes Dog Show @ St. Paul River Centre | Varies A fun and furry event for the whole family! Come and see your favorite four legged friends at the dog show!
January 7: Twin Cities Familys Blog’s Carnival Soirée | 10am-12pm Join us for a carnival soirée open house event at Children’s Learning Adventure in Maple Grove. This will be a morning PACKED with fun as you and your children explore their facilities for FREE! From bowling to dancing, theatre and baking, art and a tot space, and so much more, there is literally something for every age and every child! All attendees MUST register for this event so we can have a firm head count for planning purposes. Registration will open on Thursday morning.
January 7: Snowflake Wonders @ Maplewood Nature Center | 1-3pm Cut and create beautiful snowflakes for your windows. Learn how snowflakes are formed in the sky, and peer at preserved snowflake crystals up close on the microcam. Drop in for a half-hour for self-guiding activities or stay the whole time! FREE.
January 8: Puppet Adventures of Ned the Naturalist | 1-3pm Follow Ned the Nerdy Naturalist as he saves nature. Try a take-home art activity. FREE.
January 13-15: Arctic Fever Winter Festival 2017 | Varies Arctic Fever is a fun winter festival for all ages designed to get families and friends outside to enjoy a Minnesota Winter. Most events are free and accompanied by a great bonfire!
January 14: Winter Open House: Snowshoes and Tracks @ Maplewood Nature Center | 10am-3pm Learn how to walk, run, and turn around on snowshoes. Learn about Animal Tracks and Signs from self -guiding activities. A naturalist will answer nature questions, and orient you to the nature center trails. Sleds will be available for pulling young kids. Dress in layers and wear winter boots. Hot chocolate for all attendees! Free to attend. Snowshoe rental for ages 4+: $5/pair.
January 15: Free Family Fun Days: Snowflakes @ Richardson Nature Center | 3-4pm Explore a different topic each week through hands-on activities that everyone can enjoy at their own pace. Children 17 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in anytime. FREE.
January 16: Snowman Making Contest and Concert | 1-3:30pm Creatively build a snowman, snow-woman, or snow monster. Bring shovels, props, and natural materials to accessorize. Enter as a team or individual. Judging at 3:00 PM; certificates awarded at 3:30 PM. Enjoy marshmallow roasting and an indoor concert after. FREE.
January 20: Dive-In Movie @ Shoreview Community Center | 7-9pm Join your friends and family at the Tropics Indoor Waterpark for a Dive-In Movie Night! Guests can relax on giant sea creatures or lounge on pool-side chairs while watching a family-friendly movie. No need to register; the purchase of a daily pass the day of the movie is your ticket. Free for members! Due to licensing restrictions, we are unable to advertise the movie title on our Facebook page; please call 651.490.4750 for movie title.
January 20-21: Rennet Festival | Varies Kicking off Friday night with a high school race, the Rennet Festival features two days of racing on world-class trails with 5K of guaranteed snow, challenging climbs, and scenic views of Hyland Lake Park Reserve. The festival includes an all-day party on Saturday with free activities for all ages, including music, fat bike and cross-country ski demos, a sponsor village with food and craft beer available for purchase, and more.
January 21: Hockey Day Minnesota | All Day The Minnesota Wild, along with FOX Sports North and Minnesota Hockey, will host the outdoor games for Wells Fargo Hockey Day Minnesota 2017 in Stillwater! An outdoor rink will be constructed in Lowell Park in downtown Stillwater along the St. Croix River. Stillwater’s festivities will be part of a day-long television event broadcast on FOX Sports North, designed as a celebration of the game from peewees to pros.
January 22: Free Family Fun Days: Remarkable Reptiles | 3-4pm Explore through hands-on activities at your own pace. Children 17 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult. Drop in anytime. FREE.
January 26: Winter Walk @ Coldwater Spring | 5-7pm Walk through a winter wonderland with the National Park Service! Join Ranger Sharon for a casual, one-mile evening walk through Coldwater Spring. This will be a fun, guided park naturalist tour of Coldwater Spring with stops along the way to learn more about this site. Bundle up and come out to discover the park’s history, and learn about the critters that call this area home. FREE.
January 26-29: U.S. Pond Hockey Championships @ Lake Nokomis | Varies The 2017 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.
January 27-29: TwinFest 2017 | Varies TwinsFest will feature numerous new interactive activities and behind-the-scenes fan experiences that celebrate Twins baseball and Target Field. New to this year’s event, the Metropolitan Club will host TwinsFest’s first-ever beer garden. An engaging and energetic space for families and friends to connect at TwinsFest, this new attraction will feature a selection of craft beers, yard games, pub games, a radio stage hosted by Go Media, classic arcade games and many other interactive activities for families.
January 29: Free Family Fun Days: Winter Campfire | 1-3pm Explore a different topic each week through hands-on activities that everyone can enjoy at their own pace. Drop in anytime. Children 17 years and younger must be accompanied by a registered adult. FREE.
WinterSkate @ Loring Park: Skating Season | Varies Wells Fargo Minneapolis Winterskate is the ultimate place to take your family skating this winter! With free family friendly events, complimentary skate rental, a warming house, and more, it’s sure to be a place where you can make some great memories this winter.
Saint Paul Winter Carnival: January 26-February 5 | Varies It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and Rice Park has the events to prove it during the entire Winter Carnival. Free and open to the public throughout Winter Carnival. Ice sculptures are on display, sit in a Royal Throne made of ice, view the Ice Castle Sponsor Wall. Live entertainment on the Nature’s Fury Entertainment Stage at Rice Park, vendor booths and other activities. Decorated with beautiful lights and greenery. FREE.
Ice Castles: Late December (weather permitting) | Ice Castles is a Utah-based company, led by ice artist Brent Christensen, that creates acre-sized, all-ice castles at venues across the United States. This year it will be in Stillwater, and it’s a must see!
Cinderella: November 8-January 8 | Hold on to your pumpkins! The magical, fantastical, and all-too-hilarious Cinderella returns to our stage for the holiday season. Freshly updated with all new songs, gags, and mayhem, you’ll jeer at the deliciously dysfunctional stepmother and sisters as much as you’ll cheer for Cinderella in her quest to attend the magnificent ball and fulfill her destiny. Put on your glass slippers, and join us for this spectacular and outrageous telling of our unique Cinderella, guaranteed to delight.
Night Trains at Twin City Model Railroad Museum: November 5-February 25 | Night Trains Season comes to museum layouts in a magical way, the lights are turned down, the buildings and street lights glow warmly, setting the scene for specially lighted models of 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.
“Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame” Exhibit: September 24-January 15 | Organized by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this exhibit features more than 200 artifacts, photos and rare documents, footage from the NFL Film archives, and interactive experiences. A section of the exhibit will be devoted to the Minnesota Vikings Training Camp, where visitors can work on their vertical leap, broad jump, kicking and passing games.
Three Rivers Park District: FREE Family Fun Days: Sundays | Various Times Three Rivers offers family fun at Kroening Interpretive Center or Richardson Nature Center. Discover all the fun that life in and around the river and woods has to offer. FREE.
Toddler Tuesdays at MOA Tuesdays | 10am-Noon Toddler Tuesdays is a program that provides events, free entertainment and discounts especially for toddlers. Events include special character appearances, arts and crafts, story time and much more! FREE.
Wee Wednesdays at Midtown Global Market Wednesdays | 10:30am-1pm Wee Wednesdays showcase free educational programming, fun crafts and great meal deals each Wednesday morning at Midtown Global Market! Dance with them, experience live puppet theater, learn to cook fun items together in the kitchen, and even pet live animals from the Como Zoo. FREE.
Kids at the Castle: Third Friday Playdates (American Swedish Institute) In the hour before the museum opens, join ASI for visual play, storytelling, music, movement and crafts inspired by ASI’s current exhibits- activities that will encourage creative minds and active hands. Recommended for ages 2-5. $5 per family. Registration not required; check in at the Information Desk by 11 a.m. on the day of the program. Adult accompaniment required.
