Fun Minnesota Winter Activities and Holiday Festivals For Kids and Adults. Fun Activities Holiday Events. By Special Advertising Sections Editor Chrissy Sarinske. Published October 2. Ginny Haupert Photography. When you live in the Midwest, it can be tempting to hibernate when the snow and cold hit. Instead, seize the deep freeze Jack Kerouac, par Tom Palumbo, vers 1956 Donnes cls Nom de naissance JeanLouis Krouac Alias Jack Kerouac Naissance 12 mars 1922 Lowell, Massachusetts Dcs. See Minnesota from the vantage point of a dogsled, on cross country skis, or in a horse drawn sleigh. Plan a cozy getaway to a remote lodge. Party on the ice. Go shopping in an open air market. Bunyan And Babe Movie Theatre ' title='Bunyan And Babe Movie Theatre ' />The A Load of Bull trope as used in popular culture. Talking bulls or bullmen, especially those who stand on two feet usually hooves, though not always. According to an old Scandinavian saying, Theres no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing, so put on those extra layers and make the most of winter. Here are 1. 8 fun winter activities and holiday festivals for kids and adults. Northwest. Bemidjiphoto courtesy of visit bemidji. When the snow flies, the town of Bemidji comes alive with the roar of snowmobiles. The sense of excitement that comes with riding well marked wilderness trails, that freeing feeling you get on a wide open landscape, the surge of adrenaline that comes with hitting the throttle and just going, its all part of the appeal of snowmobiling in the first city on the Mississippi. Bemidji, the crossroads city for two of the major Minnesota Interconnecting Trail System MITS routes, can connect riders with nearly any place in the state. According to Visit Bemidji, The MITS 7. Paul Bunyan Trail, running 1. Bemidji and Brainerd, and the Blue Ox Trail, running 1. Bemidji to International Falls, Winnipeg and beyond. Combined, the Paul BunyanBlue Ox network is considered the longest rail conversion to recreation trail in America. Less than 1. 2 miles of trails are stud restricted, with easily accessible alternative routes arranged. Lodging options span from full service hotels to cozy lakeside cabins, with a variety of bars and restaurants for every taste and budget. The fish bite like crazy in summer and winter in the beautiful Lake of the Woods area of Minnesota, just minutes from the Canadian border. When the massive lake freezes over, serious fishermenwomen are greeted with wide, well maintained, flagged ice roads and the opportunity to catch walleye, sauger, and huge northern pike. Theres a reason, after all, that the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has determined this to be a World Class Fishery. Stay in a modern, reasonably priced cabin, some offering ice fishing packages with heated fish houses, hot lunch, and someone to clean and pack your fish. Marked snowmobile trails offer additional hours of entertainment. For half a century, Detroit Mountain was a family owned alpine ski operation in the Detroit Lakes area, providing hours of fun for both residents and visitors alike. In 2. 00. 4, the operation shut down, much to the disappointment of the community. Intent on finding a way to reopen the area as a year round recreational facility, a community campaign was launched to Bring Back Detroit Mountain. Ten years and 8 million in donations later, the mountain will open this November. The area features a beautiful new lodge and redesigned mountain for skiing and snowboarding, as well as an all new Scheels terrain park, tubing hill, and cross country ski trails. In the warmer months, visitors can hike to a special scenic outlook or mountain bike along purpose built trails. The Detroit Lakes area offers several lodging, shopping, dining, and nightlife options. The Hjemkomst Centers replica of the Hopperstad Stave Churchphoto by MJoy. Photography. comArt and history may not be the first words that come to mind when you think of northwest Minnesota, but Moorhead is working hard to change that stereotype. Situated just across the Red River from Fargo, North Dakotaabout a 3. Twin CitiesMoorhead is home to the Rourke Art Museum, showcasing regional and local art as well as national and international names, and The Hjemkomst Center multi use facility, home to the Clay County Historical Society. The Hjemkomst Center features a 7. Viking ship that successfully sailed from Duluth to Norway in 1. World War II exhibit, on display through December 2. Across the way, theres a full scale replica of the Hopperstad Church of Vik, as seen in Norway originally believed to be built around the year 1. The Center hosts a number of ethnic festivals throughout the year, including the Celtic Festival in March. Moorhead is a fun place to stay, with the energy of a thriving college town, lively nightlife, and numerous hotels and restaurants. Northeast. Cook Countyphoto by Dennis OHara. With more than 1. Cook County is a great place to blaze a path on cross country skis in Minnesota. Consisting of the Lutsen Tofte, Grand Marais, Gunflint Trail, and Grand Portage areas of the North Shore, Cook County offers a unique blend of scenic trails. Glide past snow laden pine trees, along the Lake Superior shoreline, through remote Boundary Waters backcountry, past Laurentian Highlands terrain, or on trails lit up at night. There are more than 4. Cook Countythe largest network in North America. Once youre done exploring, relax in a cozy cabin, cottage, or lodge room many with fireplaces, enjoy a wonderful meal, and see some live music before winding down for the night. Some resorts offer complimentary skis, ski rentals, and beginner lessons. A Great Minnesota Ski Pass is required for those 1. If its too cold or too icy to ski, snowshoeing is a great alternative. Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Tripsphoto courtesy of Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips. Elyfamous as a gateway to canoe country in warmer monthsbecomes a dogsledding paradise once the snow falls and the lakes freeze. A half dozen outfitters in Ely offer day trips, or multiday dogsled expeditions into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. One of these outfitters, Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips, entertains visitors from across the globe, says Donna Hway, who owns the company along with her husband Jeff. The majority of their customers, though, come from the Twin Cities metro. Theyve discovered that Ely is the ideal getaway for a weekend of winter fun, in less than half a days drive, Hway says. Participants as young as three months and as old as 9. Chilly Dogs sled. This is what the dogs live for The crisp air, the whisper of the sled runners, the glittering snow, and the thrill of running across lakes and through the forest. For more than 1. 0,0. Our professional mushers guide every trip, and they are masters at what they dokeeping the dogs running smoothly and making sure everyone is having fun, Hway explains. The trails, she says, are breathtakingly beautiful, with a variety of terrain and forest cover to keep the scenery interesting. The family owned company understands that many people are curious to try dogsledding but dont want to commit to a long, cold expedition, so offer a half day experience, a 2. When the trip is over and the dogs are back in their kennel, everyone gathers in the lodge to warm up by the fireplace, enjoy hot chocolate, and share stories. In addition to dogsledding, many visitors check out the International Wolf Center, excellent cross country ski or snowshoe trails, boutique shopping in town, and local restaurants. Overnight visitors are encouraged to look up at the night sky in the hopes of seeing the surreal aurora borealis, or northern lights. Watch The Full Afro Samurai: Resurrection The Movie on this page. Bentleyvillephoto by ginny haupert photography. Duluths Bentleyville Tour of Lights started out with one 4. Today, there are 1. People drive from all corners of the state and neighboring states for this impressive lighting display, the largest in the Midwest. There are more than 3. Santa and Mrs. Claus on hand to greet the little ones, and free cookies, hot chocolate, coffee, and popcorn. New this year is an ice sculpture event and a gigantic Paul Bunyan and Babe light display. Bentleyvillephoto by ginny haupert photographyBentleyville is one of those must see and experience events, says Nathan Bentley, founderexecutive director.