The fresh snow fall came just in time for organizers of the City of Lakes Loppet Festival and ski races centered around Minneapolis' Chain of Lakes and Theodore Wirth Park. The fun and frivolity will bring thousands of participants and fans into town, so expect extra traffic along with some event-related road closures.

The second weekend of the St. Paul Winter Carnival will bring closures to 5th Street during Saturday's Torchlight Parade. Expect extra traffic for the parade at 5:30 p.m. and subsequent activities in Rice Park. Also a big draw,the World's Toughest Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Xcel Energy Center

Also closed on Sunday is part of the Metro Blue Line. Buses will replace trains between the Franklin Avenue Station and Target Field starting at 6 a.m. Trains will run as normal from Franklin Avenue to the Mall of America.

Rail service is being curtailed in downtown Minneapolis while demolition activities at the Metrodome are in progress. It will be restored when the work is done, Metro Transit said.

Bus routes 3, 14, 16 and 94 will be on detour in downtown Minneapolis from 4:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

Drivers heading to the big ski festival are reminded to watch for pedestrian traffic near the course routes, and to use alternate routes to avoid the traffic hassles that could develop. For specifics on the City of Lakes Loppet, including a list of events, start times, course maps, and parking and other visitor information, visit www.loppet.org/events/cityoflakesloppet.

Here is a list of major road closures associated with the event. Some will impact access to the Theodore Wirth Recreation Area.

  • West Lake Calhoun Parkway between Lake Street and Xerxes Avenue S., 6 p.m. Friday until 10 p.m. Sunday.
  • Glenwood Avenue from Wirth Parkway to Xerxes Avenue, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
  • Theodore Wirth Parkway from Interstate 394 to Glenwood Avenue, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
  • Theodore Wirth Parkway between Highway 55 and Plymouth Avenue, 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday.
  • Theodore Wirth Parkway between Olson Memorial Highway and Golden Valley Road/Duluth Street, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.