Kites on Ice Festival // February 10
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s…kites? In the dead of winter? That’s right, the good people of Buffalo know that February has a tendency to make us feel wistful and restless, and what better way to release that energy than through a mass ascension of kaleidoscopic kites of all shapes and sizes? In addition to kite flying, there will be a kite-building workshop for the youngsters, a cornhole tournament, food trucks, a beer garden, dogsled rides, and an appearance by experienced show kite flyers from the Midwest. May the wind always be at your back (or, at the very least, on February 10). buffalochamber.org
I.C.E. Fest 2024 – Sunny Zwilling Memorial Ice Carousel Extravaganza // February 17–18
Going for a spin takes on a new meaning on Green Prairie Fish Lake in Little Falls. Ice carousels, an old Finnish tradition, are circles cut into frozen lakes via chain saw and then powered by trolling motors to propel rotation (think of it as a giant lazy Susan). Chuck Zwilling has been going all out with his record-breaking ice carousel creations since 2019, taking home the title of world’s largest ice carousel more than once. The highlight of this year’s event is World Ice Carousel Day, bringing together representatives from Estonia, Finland, Quebec, and Maine to celebrate ice carousels around the globe. Other extracurriculars on ice at this free, family-friendly event include dogsled rides, curling and hockey, Santa sleigh rides, igloo building, merry-go-round rides, and “human foosball.” Proceeds go toward underprivileged children through The Pay It Forward Foundation. mnicefest.com
Grumpy Old Men Festival // February 23–24
Made famous by the movie, it’s no surprise the town of Wabasha pays annual tribute to the “old man yells at older man” classic. (This marks its 31st year!) And the festival’s activities are as Minnesota as it gets: hot dish luncheon, ice fishing, spaghetti feed, cribbage tournament, UTV/ATV parade, live music, and more. The standout feature is the Grumpy Plunge, where participants dress as Grumpy Old Men characters before they plunge into the icy waters of the Mississippi. wabashamn.org
This article originally appeared in the December 2023 issue of Mpls.St.Paul Magazine.
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