1/9/2025 -- Weekend Events Preview

TWIN CITIES WEEKEND PREVIEW — KEEPING YOU BUSY ✔

Today is January 9th.

Here is what’s happening in the Twin Cities this weekend.

Minnesota Ice Festival AND Minnesota Ice Castles 🧊

🧊 Only in Minnesota would we have TWO festivals happening at the same time solely dedicated to ice.

Minnesota Ice Festival 🧊

Event Dates: January 10th - February 16th

Location: TCO Stadium at Viking Lakes

Hours:

• Thursdays & Fridays: 4 PM – 10 PM

• Saturdays: 11 AM – 10 PM

• Sundays: 11 AM – 9 PM

Ticket Information

• Adults (15+): $24.99

• Children (5-14): $12.99

• Children (0-4): Free

• Buy tickets

Featured Events and Attractions

Opening Weekend (Jan 10-12)

• Live performance by Kat Perkins

• Three-lane ice slide

• 3,500 square foot skating rink

• Skate rentals available

World's Largest Ice Maze: An 18,000 square foot record-breaking attraction featuring LED-lit paths and incredible design

Additional Attractions

• Themed ice bars

• Food trucks

• Interactive ice games

• Ice signature wall

• Fire pits

• light displays

• Live entertainment

Learn more at the official event website

Minnesota Ice Castles 🧊

Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights

Dates: January 10 - February 17

Key Attractions

Ice Slides: Thrilling descents for all ages, featuring winding paths and exhilarating drops

Caverns & Archways: Stunning ice structures with hand-placed icicles creating magical, chandelier-like formations

Crawl Tunnels: Adventurous passageways designed for children and playful adults

Unique Features

• Over 20 million pounds of ice

• 12,000 icicles created daily

• LED-lit ice sculptures

• Nightly fire shows

• Ice river

• Snow caverns

Ticket Details:

• Tickets available online and in-person

• $17-24

Parking: Free parking in Robin Lot, enter via Gate 3 off Hoyt Avenue

The Story Behind Ice Castles

Founded by Brent Christensen in 2011, Ice Castles began as a simple way to entertain his children during Utah winters. What started as a neighborhood ice cave has now become a beloved winter attraction across North America, dedicated to creating joy and unforgettable memories.

Best Slices Of Pizza Heading Into 2025 🍕

The New York Times recently released a guide for where to find the best slices of pizza in 2025. It may come as no surprise that Twin Cities culinary giant, Chef Ann Kim, has two pizza shops mentioned on the list.

🍕Hello Pizza: New York-style pizzeria located in Edina. Opened in 2012. it offers thin-crust pizzas, meatball subs, and draft microbrews in a casual, counter-service setting. Chef Ann Kim was inspired to create Hello Pizza based on her college experiences in New York City, where she enjoyed daily pizza slices.

🍕 Pizzeria Lola: Nestled in the Kingfield neighborhood of Minneapolis, Pizzeria Lola is renowned for its wood-fired, Neapolitan-style pizzas that blend traditional techniques with innovative, Korean-inspired flavors. Signature pizzas like the Korean BBQ pizza and the La Creme showcase Kim's creative approach, combining unexpected ingredients with classic pizza craftsmanship.

Other Restaurant Openings

🥐 Zao Bakery + Cafe: charming new St. Paul Chinese bakery offering scratch-made buns, congee, and traditional breakfast favorites, featuring around twelve different baked goods daily and a welcoming atmosphere near University and Dale Streets. More Info.

🍸 Stargazer: A new cocktail bar in northeast Minneapolis that revolutionizes the dining experience with an innovative digital menu that transforms your phone into an interactive celestial map, guiding patrons through a galaxy of unique cocktails and hand-crafted bites in a space-themed, intentionally designed atmosphere. More Info.

🦞 Altera: Elegant, upscale restaurant in St. Paul's Highland Park neighborhood, offering a sophisticated dining experience with a diverse menu featuring seafood, refined bar fare, and creative cocktails in a stylish space previously occupied by Agra Culture. More Info.

Music 🎙

❯ Ringo Star “Look Up” Listening Party | Electric Fetus | 1/10 | Free | More Info

❯ Minnesota Orchestra | Nordic Tales and Folklore | Orchestra Hall | 1/10,11 | $66+ | More Info

❯ Kung Fu Hippies present an Evening of the Grateful Dead | Park Square Theater | 1/10 | $25+ | More Info

❯ The Magic of Motown | Pantages Theater | 1/12 | $35+ | More Info

❯ Robert Glasper | Dakota | 1/10,11 | $55+ | More Info

❯ A Holy Place to Be: Acoustic Bowie | Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge | 1/10 | $25+ | More Info

❯ Divas Gone Country | Hanifl Performing Arts Center | 1/10 | $45 | More Info

❯ Lemonbrass | Metronome Brewery | 1/11 | $10 | More Info

❯ G. Love and Special Sauce | First Avenue | 1/10 | $50 | More Info

❯ A Tribute to Dolly Parton | Fine Line: First Avenue | 1/11 | $25 | More Info

❯ Twin Cities Open Mic Contest | Slam Academy | 1/12 | $25 | More Info

Sports 🏒

🏒 MN Gopher Women’s Hockey v. St. Thomas Tommies | Ridder Arena | 01/10,11 | $8+ | More Info 

🏀 MN Timberwolves v. Memphis Grizzlies | Target Center | 01/11 | $31+| More Info

Picks For The Family 👪

❯ Family Day at MIA: The museum is filled with hands-on art activities, storytelling, artist demonstrations, gallery hunts, self-guided tours and more — all inspired by Mia’s incredible collection. | 1/12 | Free | More Info

❯ Snow, Science, and Family Fun: free, interactive winter event at the Forest History Center where families can explore snow science through hands-on activities like snowshoeing, microscope snowflake viewing, snowflake art creation, and animal track identification. | 1/11 | Free | More Info

❯ The SpongeBob Musical: energetic Broadway musical bringing the beloved cartoon characters to life with catchy songs and colorful staging | Park Square Theater | 1/10,11,12 | $25+ | More Info

Miscellaneous…Something for Everyone

❯ Book Fair for Adults: Nostalgic adult book fair featuring local bookstores, crafters, and brewery vibes | Inbound BrewCo | 1/11 | Free | More Info

❯ 16th Annual Minneapolis Tattoo Arts Convention: Celebrate body art with hundreds of talented tattoo artists, live demonstrations, and incredible ink displays | Hyatt Regency | 1/10,11,12, | $25 | More Info

❯ Josh Johnson: The Flowers Tour: hilarious stand-up comedy performance by an up-and-coming comedian | Pantages Theater | 1/10 | $36+ | More Info

❯ ISOC Snowcross Nationals: High-octane snowmobile racing event featuring professional riders competing on challenging winter tracks | Canterbury Downs | 1/10,11 | $25+ | More Info

❯ Time Travel Half Marathon (and 5 and 10K) | Lake Phalen Park | 1/11 | $45+ |  More Info

❯ Wheels Like the First Time: Roller Derby: Intense and exciting roller derby match showcasing local athletes' speed, skill, and competitive spirit | Roy Wilkins | 1/11 | $19 | More Info

Planning Ahead! Events coming up the next few weeks 📆

Here are some notable events to keep your eye on and add to your calendar.

❯ Art Shanty | 1/18 | More Info

❯ Taylor Swift Day at Inbound BrewCo | 1/25 | More Info

❯ Boundary Waters permits go on sale | 1/29 | More Info

❯ Minneapolis Home and Garden Show | 1/31 | More Info