1. World Snow Celebration
Sixteen teams from around the world will compete for prize money by creating large, intricate snow sculptures. Surrounding activities during the event include a snow slide, bingo, scavenger hunt, live music, an indoor market and more. (Various times Jan. 13-25, see website for schedule, free, Lowell Park, 201 Water St. N., Stillwater, worldsnowcelebration.com)
2. Anoka Winterfest
This weeklong frozen flurry of activities includes a luminary trail, glow disc golf, glow skating, glow sledding sled and more. (Various times and locations throughout Anoka Jan. 12-16, see website for details, free-$5, ci.anoka.mn.us)
3. Justus Ramsey House
Salvaged pieces of the historic home built by Justus Ramsey, brother of Minnesota’s first territorial governor, Alexander Ramsey, will lay the historic cornerstone for the beginning of the rebuild of the home at the Minnesota Transportation Museum. Following the special ceremony and talk, visitors can learn about plans for exhibits and more. (1 p.m. Jan. 14., free, Minnesota Transportation Museum, 193 Pennsylvania Av. E., St. Paul, trainride.org)
4. Viking Lakes Ice Festival
Two wintery installations welcome guests into the 8,000-square-foot ice walking experience featuring custom ice sculptures. There’s also entertainment, an ice bar, music, food trucks and more. (Various times Jan. 16-25, see website for schedule, Viking Lakes, 2685 Vikings Circle, Eagan, $8-$13, winterskolstice.com)
5. Arctic Fever
Indoor and outdoor fun throughout the weekend with llamas, music, curling, s’mores, dog sled and wagon rides. (5:30-7:30 p.m. Jan. 16, Shorewood Community & Event Center, 5735 Country Club Road, Shorewood; 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Jan. 17, Freeman Park, 6000 Eureka Road, Shorewood, free, shorewoodmn.gov)
6. Minnesota Frost Watch Party
Cheer on the state’s women’s hockey team starting with happy hour. (Happy hour, 4-6 p.m., the puck drops at 6 p.m. Jan. 16, free, A Bar of Their Own, 2207 Franklin Av. E., Mpls., abaroftheirown.com)
7. Hastings Ice Sculpture Celebration
Artists will do live carvings to celebrate winter. (11 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 17, free, downtown Hastings, hastingsdba.com)
8. Winter Whirl
It’s part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival and a kickoff for “Springboard on Ice,” where skaters of all levels can skate around the pop-up mini rink. There will be open skating, drop-in skating lessons and hot chocolate. (1-4 p.m. Jan. 17; 1-3 p.m. Saturdays Jan. 24-Feb. 14, free, Springboard for the Arts, 262 University Av. W., St. Paul, wintercarnial.com)
