Evie Carrick is a writer and editor who has lived in five countries and visited more than 50. She currently divides her time between Colorado and Paris, ensuring she can always enjoy a ski trip or L’As du Fallafel.
If a trip to Minnesota in the dead of winter doesn’t sound too tempting, you may not know about the Great Northern Festival, an event that celebrates the northern cold and all things winter. Skiers crossed frozen lakes, hockey players competed on the ice, and people gathered in a makeshift sauna village to cool off in the bitter cold after a sauna session.
The event takes place over two weeks during Minnesota’s coldest days at various locations and venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul. This winter event will run from January 25, 2024 to February 4, 2024.
In addition to cold-weather outdoor activities like snowshoeing, skiing, and ice skating, the event also includes a rich cultural component, including live music, comedy, films, a climate solutions video series, and art exhibits. There’s even a catch-all dance called “Dance Church,” which encourages participants to let loose in a fun group atmosphere that provides warmth in the middle of winter.
Those looking for good food and wine can enjoy the cold weather and sample some of the best the state has to offer. The Seven Stories dinner is served outdoors at communal tables and prepared by a team of seven chefs, including TIME’s Most Influential Person and Julia Child Award winner Sean Sherman, the Olala Lakota Sioux chef at Owamuni, a restaurant recently recognized by the James Beard Foundation.
If you want to learn about the foods that could disappear due to climate change, join former White House Chef Sam Kass for a meal made with endangered ingredients. The Last Supper is a powerful spectacle that reveals the harsh reality of our future and the solutions to avoid the worst effects of climate change.
For Latin American and Mexican cuisine, head to pop-up K’óoben, where chefs and mixologists meet to explore the immigrant experience and share their favorite dishes. Live music will complement your meal.
Meanwhile, those looking for a drink (hot or cold) can find it at the 100-foot ice bar that takes up an entire block in downtown Minneapolis and showcases the talents of local bartenders, breweries, and distilleries. Both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks will be served on several nights during the two-week festival.
The Climate Solutions series will feature the voices of prominent activists including Gloria Walton, winner of the 2023 TIME CO2 Earth Prize, and Patti Gonia, a queer eco drag queen and unofficial star of New York City Climate Week.
Live musical performances will include Broken Ice: Indigenous Sonic Salve from the North and the Minnesota Orchestra’s Sphinx Virtuosi Band.
Overall, the Great North Festival features over 50 food, cultural and outdoor events that celebrate the cold, raise awareness of climate change and showcase the work of local, national and international artists across a range of genres.