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Minnesota Ice Festival provides chill winter fun

AERIAL. This image provides the visual overview of the winter wonderland-transformed TCO Vikings Stadium. Igloos and fire pits are closest to the entrance and the ice maze is in the middle of the field.
AERIAL. This image provides the visual overview of the winter wonderland-transformed TCO Vikings Stadium. Igloos and fire pits are closest to the entrance and the ice maze is in the middle of the field.
Elizabeth Tuttle

Beginning on Jan. 10, and ending on Feb. 16, the Minnesota Ice Festival takes place at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Vikings Stadium in Eagan. This winter event offers a variety of activities for visitors of all ages, including the world’s largest ice maze, ice slides, a skating rink and an array of food trucks.

The festival entrance is decorated with colorful lights, and cheerful pop music plays through speakers scattered around the facility. After descending a large flight of stairs, visitors are greeted by food trucks, fire pits, igloos and ice sculptures. The fire pits are strategically placed with chairs surrounding them, creating cozy spaces for people to warm up or socialize. All ice sculptures are carved on-site, with one live carving taking place during the event. Inside the illuminated igloos, guests can play games like ping-pong or air hockey on a table made of ice, adding a playful and unique element to the experience.

The entrance to the ice maze lies just beyond the fire pits and igloos. The maze features seven-foot high walls, preventing participants from being able to see over the top. At all times, there were colorful lights illuminating the maze’s twists and turns. Designed to be family-friendly, the maze includes unique ice sculptures at every dead end, many of which are themed for children. Notable ice sculptures include characters such as Bluey and Sonic the Hedgehog, in addition to numerous photo spots for families to enjoy. Navigating the maze typically takes about 15 minutes, with its complicated layout adding a fun challenge. While people often need to retrace their steps multiple times in order to escape the maze, the polished sculptures and engaging design make sure the journey stays enjoyable.

Adjacent to the maze’s exit, the ice slides offer another exciting attraction. Attendees, dressed in snow pants, climb a set of stairs and choose one of four parallel slides. These slides are a popular spot for friendly races, adding a competitive element to the thrill of going on a slide. Event staff ensured safety by monitoring the top and bottom of the slides, and maintained the snow piles at the bottom which helped slow participants down. To the left of the slides was the ice skating rink and the food trucks. The rink was standard, but it was big enough that around twenty people could use it at once. People flocked around the food trucks, and they were able to enjoy their food inside the igloos and around the fire pits.

SLIP AND SLIDE. Children line up to ride the slide. Participants got significant speed as they neared the base of the slide. (Elizabeth Tuttle)

Overall the Minnesota Ice Festival offers a unique variety of activities that make it difficult to run out of things to do. Attendees are encouraged to dress warmly, with hats, gloves and snow pants to maintain comfort in the frigid winter weather. With ample opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, this event is perfect for group outings. Tickets are available for purchase on the festival’s website. Make sure to visit before the festival closes on Feb. 16!

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