Winter Fete

Enjoy the Fourth Annual Citywide Winter Lights Tour by basking in the glow (literally!) of your neighbor's holiday season spirit and experience their illuminative decorating skills! 

Visit the official Winter Lights Tour page to view the tour map beginning on December 1.  

Questions? Call Bloomington Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877, MN Relay 711 or email parksrec@bloomingtonmn.gov. 

Fat tire biking season is finally here in Bloomington! Join Minnesota Off Road Cyclists (MORC) for some outdoor fun this winter biking along the Minnesota River Valley in celebration of Global Fat Bike Day. MORC is one of the organizations that supports trail work volunteers on mountain bike trails throughout the Twin Cities, including the Minnesota River Trail in Bloomington. 

Fat biking is one of the most popular winter recreational activities in Minnesota. Fat bikes have thick tires that safely handle frosty, woodsy, snow-covered trails, providing an excellent winter recreation option for Minnesotans. No experience is required to try a fat bike. It's an easy, low-impact, fun activity for you and your family and friends!

An opportunity like this is the perfect way to get involved with the fat tire biking community and enjoy wintertime in the Minnesota River Valley. We hope to see you there!

• Where: Minnesota River Bottoms Lyndale Avenue Lot, 11115 Lyndale Avenue South  
• When: December 6, 2025, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Weather: Ride is weather dependent.
• Equipment: A limited number of bikes will be provided.
  • Participants are welcome to bring their own bikes.
  • Provided bikes typically fit ages 12 and above.
  • Helmets required.
• Fee: Free

Join us for holiday gift making! Come without a gift and leave with a handcrafted gift in a box, ready to go for the holidays! 

You'll use recycled bowling pins to make snow people or a character of your choosing. A variety of craft supplies will be available for this unique holiday gift. 

After you finish, we'll wrap your creation so you leave with a thoughtful, hand-painted treasure, ready to be gifted. It's a fun, stress-free way to make meaningful memories and gifts this season.

Location
Bloomington Center for the Arts - Children's Studio, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd.

Schedule

• December 22, 2025, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
• December 23, 2025, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
  • Sessions are identical

Registration & Fees

• Participants per session: Maximum 15
• Ages: 6 - 18
• Fee: $20 resident, $25 nonresident
• Register online at Webtrac
  • A RecTrac Household Account is required in order to register online. If you have an account, log in after clicking the link above. If you do not have an account, create a new one. 

Skate into 2026 at Bloomington Ice Garden with the annual New Year's Eve open skate! Enjoy music, skating on multiple sheets of ice, and a kid-friendly new year's countdown at 6:30 p.m. Concessions will be available. All ages are welcome. Skate rental included in admission price.

• Where: Bloomington Ice Garden, 3600 W. 98th Street.
• When: December 31, 2025, 4 - 7 p.m.
• Fee: $8/person.
• Registration: blm.mn/webtrac or pay at the door.
  • A RecTrac Household Account is required in order to register online. If you have an account, log in after clicking the link above. If you do not have an account, create a new one. 

Try Outdoor Ice Skating

Try ice skating this winter at one of our outdoor rinks! 

"Try it" events are free with no registration required. Limited quantities of free rental skates are provided. A 20-minute time limit may be placed on free skate rentals depending on number of participants. 

• Who: Youth and Families, ages 6 and up
• Fee: Free!
• Registration: None required. 

Schedule

• December 22, 2025, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Sunrise Park, 9401 Bloomington Ferry Rd.
• January 5, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Poplar Bridge Park, 4600 W. 85th St.
• January 19, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Brookside Park, 10000 Xerxes Ave. S.
• February 2, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Westwood Park, 3490 W. 109th St.
• February 9, 2026, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., Bryant Park, 1001 W. 85th St.

Kick the winter blues at the Third Annual Blades and Bites event. Enjoy skating and fun for the whole family! 

Food will be available for purchase through local food trucks. All attendees will be eligible for fun games and giveaways, while supplies last. 

• When and Where:
  • January 31, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Bryant Park, 1001 W. 85th St.
• Weather: Event is weather dependent. Please call (952-563-8878 option 3) for updates.
• Equipment: A limited number of ice skates will be available to rent for free. Participants are welcome to bring their own skates.
• Fee: Free. There is no entry fee or registration required.  

Wondering what Blades and Bites is all about?  Check out this short video of the 2023 event! 

Winter Fete: Blades and Bites recap

SEVENTH ANNUAL MEDALLION HUNT

The Annual Bloomington Parks and Recreation Medallion Hunt will take place in January and February 2026 as part of Winter Fete. The first clue will be announced January 13 and clues will come every Tuesday and Friday morning. The hunt will end when someone finds the commemorative medallion. The medallion will be hidden in one of Bloomington's 97 parks. 

THE MEDALLION

An image of the medallion is shown below. It's about as big across as a hockey puck or a typical coffee table drink coaster.  

CLUES AND TIMING

Clues will be provided on this web page and on the Facebook home of Bloomington Parks and Recreation on Tuesday and Friday mornings beginning in January. There will be 10 clues in all. 

Medallion Hunt Clues

• Clue #1 - January 13
  • Bloomington’s annual hunt is here, and it starts today! Let the search begin, there’s no need to delay. 
    A wonderful prize awaits the keen-eyed scout. Hidden in our parks and trails, there is no doubt.
• Clue #2 - January 16
  • If you're tempted to dig or destroy, keep in mind there’s no need. Hard hats aren’t necessary, and you can go at your own speed.
• Clue #3 - January 20
  • Go out and enjoy all that Bloomington has to offer. An epic hunting story awaits, with you as the author. It will take wandering eyes and an inquisitive mind. Keep dissecting the clues, they’ll assist in the find.
• Clue #4 - January 23
• Clue #5 - January 27
• Clue #6 - January 30
• Clue #7 - February 3
• Clue #8 - February 6
• Clue #9 - February 10
• Clue #10 - February 13

MEDALLION HUNT WINNER

Once the hunt begins, please contact Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877 or parksrec@bloomingtonmn.gov with questions and/or WHEN YOU FIND THE MEDALLION. We don't want to miss out on bragging up your accomplishment, and letting others know to stop looking. 

PRIZE PACKAGE

Whoever finds the Medallion will win a fabulous prize package full of glowing family fun! Just as importantly, the Medallion finder earns the bragging rights over friends, family and neighbors for the next year, which is a prize on which you can't put a price!   

PREVIOUS WINNERS

2025 - The Webb Family

2024 - The Schuldt Family

2023 - Adrian Koester

2022 - Stephanie & Casey Auen

 2020/2021 - The Hoffman Family

Fishing isn’t just a summer activity! Once our lakes freeze over, we can venture out and catch fish through the ice. We will show you how to use the equipment, understand and find where the fish live in winter, and practice reeling in the different species that call Bush Lake home.  All equipment will be provided. 

• Where: Bush Lake Beach
• 2026 Dates:
  • January 25
    • Session 1: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    • Session 2: 1 - 3 p.m.
  • February 8
    • Session 1: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    • Session 2: 1 - 3 p.m.
  • February 22
    • Session 1: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
    • Session 2: 1 - 3 p.m.
• Fee: $12.50 per participant
• Registration: blm.mn/webtrac
  • Maximum of 20 participants per event. Children must have adult supervision.
  • Minimum age is 8.
  • A RecTrac Household Account is required in order to register. If you have an account, log in after clicking the link above. If you do not have an account, create a new one. 

Help us turn Tarnhill Park into "Pantshenge" during the 2026 Freeze Your Pants activity, presented as part of the annual Bloomington Winter Fete. 

How can I participate? 

• Dunk a pair of pants in water.
• Put them outside to freeze.
• Before they're completely frozen, shape them so they'll stand up.
• Bring them to Tarnhill Park, 9650 Little Road, and add them to the collection. Look for signs identifying the Freeze Your Pants zone. 

When can I participate? 

The exact timing is up to Mother Nature. But once the temperature is cold enough, we'll announce the launch on the Bloomington Parks and Recreation Facebook page.  

Due to insufficient snow, this event is moving to its backup date, February 6. Same location. Same time. 

Enjoy an afternoon of sledding at Brookside Park, 10000 Xerxes Ave. S. on January 19 February 6, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Bring your own sled from home or borrow one of ours for the day. 

Free event. Warm yourself by the fire before another run down the hill. 

Experience winter's beauty at Pond Dakota Mission Park and the Historic Pond House, 401 E. 104th Street, during the 18th Annual Winter History Festival, Saturday, February 7, 2026, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.  

2026 Winter History Festival

Attendees will have the opportunity to: 

• Play outdoor games like Fox and Geese in the snow.
• Learn how to use snowshoes and take a naturalist-guided snowshoe walk in the river valley.
  • Snowshoes will be provided.
• Warm up by the Pond House fireplace and see ways leather was utilized by early settlers and the tools they used to make what they needed.
  • Stamp your own leather key fob to take home!

This is a free event, open to all as part of Winter Fete. No registration required.

Limited free parking is available in the Pond Dakota Mission Park lot. Additional free parking available at the adjacent Emmanuel Lutheran Church.  

2026 Winter Play Day

Embrace winter with Winter Play Day at locations throughout the Three Rivers Park District. Parks around the system will offer free and discounted rental equipment and day passes. 

Festival Event

The Festival Event takes place at Hyland Lake Park Reserve and features outdoor winter activities and exploration opportunities for everyone! 

Where: Hyland Lake Park Reserve, 10145 Bush Lake Road
Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
Time: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 
Fee: Free
Registration: None required
Full Details: Three Rivers Park District Winter Play Day