Top Minnesota Events in January

Moveable Feast: MnMo editor Rachel Hutton and MPR Classical’s John Birge preview top events in the state this month


Photo by Carter Rice

Our January issue features the 2017 To Do List, which includes 100+ festivals, events, seasonal activities, and more throughout the entire year so you don’t miss the best of Minnesota.

The biggest thing going this month is the Great Northern festival—a brand new collaboration between the organizers of the Pond Hockey tournament, the Winter Carnival, and the Loppet to create some synergy among the many ways we like to be active in the winter. The festival kicks off January 26 and also includes food events such as a fancy outdoor dinner jointly hosted by the Bachelor Farmer and Spoon and Stable, and an outdoor Swedish crayfish boil at Surly, with a mobile sauna on site. There’s also a great collection of art shows and displays.

The Great Northern events are concentrated in the metro, so for those outstate (or for those who want to take a bit of a road trip!), Rachel recommends checking out Stillwater’s annual winter ice cream social, with free scoops from Leo’s Malt Shop, the Brainerd Jaycees Ice Fishing Extravaganza, which is the largest charitable ice fishing contest in the country, and the John Beargrese Sled Dog Marathon, which is the longest such race in the lower 48.

Listen to the full segment on Classical MPR, and check out the 2017 To Do List for more ideas.