Winter Fete
Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation and area sponsors in welcoming winter during the 14th Annual Winter Fete celebration.
This year, Winter Fete activities will take place throughout the City from Saturday, January 20, through Sunday, January 28, 2018.
Kick off Winter Fete by attending the Fat Tire Bike race in the Minnesota River Valley, sponsored by Penn Cycle. Be sure to check out the many other activities including the Pond-Dakota Winter History Festival and other great events during this winter celebration! See below for more information.
All Winter Fete activities are free unless otherwise noted, and fun for the whole family! In case of inclement weather, call our weather line at 952-563-8878 for up to date cancellation information.
Saturday, January 20
Ice Fishing at Bush Lake
Bush Lake Beach
9140 E Bush Lake Road, Bloomington 55438
11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Come to Bush Lake Beach to try your hand at ice fishing and learn about the tools of the trade. DNR fishing experts will be on hand to provide equipment and instruction for all who want to try ice fishing. The Bush Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League will also be providing ice fishing instruction as well as information about beautiful Bush Lake, including information on water quality and the use of non-toxic lures and sinkers for fishing. Free non-toxic sinkers to be given out while supplies last!
Free refreshments will be available for participants. For more information call Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877.
Sponsored by City of Bloomington, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Bush Lake Chapter of the Izaak Walton League.
Hockey Day Minnesota, Mites Hockey
Running Park
9501 12th Ave S, Bloomington
1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Come watch the Bloomington Kennedy/Richfield Mites, Bloomington Jefferson Mites, and Bloomington Girls play hockey at Running Park! Games are held on both outdoor rinks. The associations will play each other as well as other teams from surrounding communities. Free to attend! Hot chocolate will be available throughout the day.
Fat Bike Race in the MN River Valley
Start: Sorenson Boat Launch area
10 a.m. start
Get Phat with Pat on January 20 and 27! This race will start and finish at the southern end of Lyndale Avenue underneath the 35W bridge. Spectators are encouraged and welcome!
Registration: Opens at 9 a.m. and closes 30 minutes prior to each race's start. Registration is located near the start/finish line.
Entry Fee: $10 Registration + $5 donation to MORC
Course: The mostly single-track course starts and goes about 4 miles west of 35W before turning around near the old RR swing bridge, then heads back to the finish line near the 35W bridge for a total of around 8 miles. It will be a full-loop, with one section of trail heading out and another heading back.
Classes:
- Recreational Men and Women – 2 lap: Race starts at 10 a.m.
- Beginner Men and Women – 1 lap: Race starts at 10:15 a.m.
- Advanced Men and Women – 3 laps: Race starts at 12 noon.
Fat bikes (3.8” tires and wider) recommended. Depending on course conditions and entries, there may be a separate class for non-fat tire bikes.
Prizes: Gift cards will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category.
For more information call Ashley at Penn Cycle 952-884-5617 or email ashley@penncycle.com
Sponsored by Penn Cycle.
Twin Cities Orthopedics Ski Rennet
Hyland Lake Park
10145 Bush Lake Road, Bloomington
All-day
Presented by L.L. Bean, this event features two days of racing on world-class trails with challenging climbs and scenic views of Hyland Lake Park Reserve. An all-day party with free activities for all ages includes music, fat bike and cross-country ski demos, a sponsor village with food, and more. 5K of guaranteed, man-made snow ensures this race is held in almost any condition.
Course options include: Hoigaard's 26K Freestyle, Gear West 26K Classic, Boulder Nordic Sport 10K Freestyle, Boulder Nordic Sport 10K Classic, 2K Para Nordic Cup, Pioneer Midwest High School 6K, Finn Sisu Junior Race, 10K Skijor, 4K Skijor, and 2k Skijor.
Efforts have been made to bring all aspects of skiing into this event through partnerships with the Twin Cities Orthopedics, Minnesota Youth Ski League, Skijor USA, and many sponsors that bring a competitive, fun race at an affordable price.
For more information visit, www.threeriversparks.org.
Fat Bike Rennet
Hyland Lake Park
10145 Bush Lake Road, Bloomington
All-day
Presented by Quality Bicycle Products, this event offers a unique opportunity for fat bikers to ride on the world-class cross country ski trails in Hyland Lake Park Reserve. An all-day party with free activities for all ages includes music, fat bike and cross-country ski demos, a sponsor village with food, and more. 5K of guaranteed, man-made snow ensure this event is held in almost any condition.
Race options include: Otso 39K Illuminated Fat Bike and 13K Fat Bike.
For more information visit, www.threeriversparks.org.
Sunday, January 21
Winter Kite Festival
Normandale Lake Park
5901 West 84th Street, Bloomington
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
First 200 people will receive a free kite!
Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Minnesota Kite Society for the inaugural Winter Fite Festival on frozen Normandale Lake! The Kite Society will be flying several large scale intricate kites, and will be available to answer questions and provide advice on kite flying. We want to fill the sky with kites, so bring yours along and join the fun. The event will begin at the Normandale Lake Bandshell. Free refreshments will be available.
Bloomington Ice Garden reduced rate open skating
Bloomington Ice Garden
3600 West 98th Street, Bloomington
2 - 3:30 p.m.
The Ice Garden will offer 50% off public skating from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The reduced rate is:
- Adults $2
- Children $1.50
- Skate rental $1
For more information, call the Ice Garden at 952-563-8841.
Friday, January 26
Waterways of Minnesota Program
Izaak Walton League, Minnesota Valley Chapter
6601 Auto Club Road, Bloomington
7 - 9 p.m.
Join for a talk by Jay Gustafson who is a member of the Minnesota Valley Chapter of the Izaak Walton League. He is padding all the navigable rivers of Minnesota to help create awareness of the threat to these important resources.
Saturday, January 27
Ice Harvest Day
Richardson Nature Center
8737 East Bush lake Road, Bloomington
11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Discover life in Minnesota before electric refrigerators, when hardy ice harvesters sawed massive blocks of ice from frozen lakes to keep food cold during warmer months.
Meet ice harvesting historian Tim Graf and costumed interpreters. Cut blocks of ice out of the pond with an old-fashioned ice saw, pull an antique ice plow, weigh blocks of ice, and try other ice-harvesting tools. Drop in anytime. Adults must accompany children 17 years and younger.
For more information, call Richardson Nature Center at 763-694-7676.
Sponsored by Three Rivers Park District.
Fat Bike Race in the MN River Valley
Start: Sorenson Boat Launch area
10 a.m. start
Get Phat with Pat on January 20 and 27! This race will start and finish at the southern end of Lyndale Avenue underneath the 35W bridge. Spectators are encouraged and welcome!
Registration: Opens at 9 a.m. and closes 30 minutes prior to each race's start. Registration is located near the start/finish line.
Entry Fee: $10 Registration + $5 donation to MORC
Course: The mostly single-track course starts and goes about 4 miles west of 35W before turning around near the old RR swing bridge, then heads back to the finish line near the 35W bridge for a total of around 8 miles. It will be a full-loop, with one section of trail heading out and another heading back.
Classes:
- Recreational Men and Women – 2 lap: Race starts at 10 a.m.
- Beginner Men and Women – 1 lap: Race starts at 10:15 a.m.
- Advanced Men and Women – 3 laps: Race starts at 12 noon.
Fat bikes (3.8” tires and wider) recommended. Depending on course conditions and entries, there may be a separate class for non-fat tire bikes.
Prizes: Gift cards will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place finishers in each category.
For more information call Ashley at Penn Cycle 952-884-5617 or email ashley@penncycle.com
Sponsored by Penn Cycle.
Sunday, January 28
Pond Dakota Winter History Festival
Pond Dakota Mission Park
401 East 104th Street, Bloomington
Noon - 4 p.m.
Discover the adventure of winter hiking on guided snowshoe walks led by Wilderness Inquiry at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Snowshoes will be provided but please bring your own if you have them. Group size is limited, and participants will be selected on a first come, first served basis.
Play Snow Snakes, lacrosse and other outdoor frontier games. Then warm up by the fire with cocoa and cookies. While indoors, see demonstrations and displays, and try your hand using a variety of 19th century tools. Hear Reverend Pond tell harrowing and hilarious stories of winter adventures on the early Minnesota frontier.
Free hot cider, cocoa and other treats will be available throughout the day.
Limited parking is available in the Pond Dakota Mission Park parking lot. Please do not park along the driveway. Additional free parking is available at Emmanuel Lutheran Church or in the Kelly Playfield lot.
For more information, call the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Division at 952-563-8693.
Organized and sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation.
Winter Fete Special Discounts!
Discounted Cross Country Ski Rentals
At Hyland Lake Park
Hyland Lake Park is offering discounted Cross Country Ski rentals after 6 p.m. during Winter Fete. Mention Bloomington Winter Fete to receive discount.
The Daily Ski Pass applies for all who are 12 years or older.
For more information visit https://www.threeriversparks.org/activities/cross-country-skiing.aspx