Winter Fete

Join us at The Arts Creative for Holiday Gift Making: Painting a Ceramic Keepsake, a cozy, creative experience perfect for all ages! 

Choose a ceramic piece to paint, then add your personal touch to make it a truly 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
The Arts Creative, 7700 West Old Shakopee Road, Suite 175

Schedule

• December 2, 2024
  • Session 1: 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. 
  • Session 2: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Registration & Fees

• Participants per session: Maximum 25 / Minimum 7
• Fee: $9
• Register online at Webtrac 

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 7, 2024, 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.  Helmets required.

Enjoy the Third 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 submit your Bloomington residence to be part of the tour, and to see the interactive tour map (available online in early December). 

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

Skate into 2025 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, 2023, 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. 

Winter Fete offers several options for fun in on top of the snow. 

TRY SNOWSHOEING 

Beginners or first-timers, come to East Bush Lake Park, 9140 East Bush Lake Road, to try snowshoeing with Bloomington Parks and Recreation! Experience this FREE family-friendly event that offers a great way to learn a new winter activity.   

Schedule

• Saturday, December 21, 1 - 3 p.m. 
• Thursday, January 30, 5 - 7 p.m. 

Equipment

• Different sizes of snowshoes will be available, including for youth participants. 

Weather

• If there is no snow, participants will learn the basics of snowshoe use on Bush Lake Beach. 

Registration and Fees

• Free and open to all. 
• No registration required. 

FAMILY SNOWSHOEING 

Bring the whole family for a guided snowshoe hike at Moir Park, 10320 Morgan Avenue South. 

Together, we’ll learn the basics of snowshoeing and take in Bloomington’s winter scenery. You’ll also have the chance to design your own snowshoes and enjoy some free hot chocolate.

Schedule

• Thursday, January 9, 5 - 6:30 p.m. 
• Tuesday, February 11, 5 - 6:30 p.m.

Equipment

• Bring a headlamp if you have one. 
• Snowshoes will be provided. 

Registration and Fees

• Open to all. 
• Registration required at Webtrac.
• Bloomington residents - $5 | Nonresidents - $7.50

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. For a longer skating experience, check out the Family Outdoor Ice Skating event information below. 

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

Schedule

• Tuesday, December 17, 5 – 7 p.m., Brookside Park, 10000 Xerxes Avenue South
• Monday, January 6, 5 - 7 p.m., Sunrise Park, 9401 Bloomington Ferry Road
• Friday, February 7, 4 - 6 p.m., Poplar Bridge Park, 4600 West 85th Street

Family Skating

Join us at one of our outdoor ice rinks for an evening of family fun! We have skates available in a range of sizes for participants ages 6 and above. Registration is required. 

• Who: Youth and Families, ages 6 and up
• Fee: $7.50 for residents, $9 for nonresidents
• Registration: Required. Sign up online at Webtrac. 

Schedule

• Tuesday, January 21, 4 – 6 p.m., Ridgeview Park, 6001 West 94th Street
• Wednesday, February 19, 5 – 7 p.m., Kelly Park, 185 East 102nd Street

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 
• 2025 Dates: 
  • January 19, 20
  • February 2, 9, 16, 23
  • March 2
• Times: 
  • January and February sessions: 9 - 11 a.m. and 12 - 2 p.m.
  • March session: 9 - 11 a.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. 

SIXTH ANNUAL MEDALLION HUNT

The Annual Bloomington Parks and Recreation Medallion Hunt will take place in January and February 2025 as part of Winter Fete. The first clue will be announced on January 14. 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 Tuesdays and Fridays beginning January 14, 2025. The final clue will be revealed on February 14, 2025.

Medallion Hunt Clues

• Clue #1 - Tuesday, January 14
• Clue #2 - Friday, January 17
• Clue #3 - Tuesday, January 21 
• Clue #4 - Friday, January 24
• Clue #5 - Tuesday, January 28
• Clue #6 - Friday, January 31
• Clue #7 - Tuesday, February 3
• Clue #8 - Friday, February 7
• Clue #9 - Tuesday, February 11
• Clue #10 - Friday, February 15

AND THE WINNER IS...

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 the Family Game Night prize package that includes a variety of fun games, puzzles, candy, a popcorn maker, a decorative Game Night backdrop and more. 

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

2024 - The Schuldt Family

2023 - Adrian Koester

2022 - Stephanie & Casey Auen

 2020/2021 - The Hoffman Family

Kick the winter blues at the Second Annual Blades and Bites events. You read that right, events...plural. This year there are two opportunities to 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: 
  • Friday, January 17, 5 – 9 p.m. at Running Park, 9501 12th Avenue South
  • Saturday, January 25, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Westwood Park, 3490 West 109th Street
• 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.  

Download the 2025 Blades and Bites flyer.

Wondering what Blades and Bites is all about?  Check out this short video of last year's event! 

Winter Fete: Blades and Bites recap

Enjoy an afternoon of sledding at Brookside Park, 10000 Xerxes Ave. S. 

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. 

• January 18, 2025, 1 - 3 p.m. 
• February 22, 2025, 1 - 3 p.m. 

Experience winter's beauty at Pond Dakota Mission Park and the Historic Pond House, 401 E. 104th Street, during the 17th Annual Winter History Festival. Enjoy these fun outdoor activities.

• Play outdoor games like Fox and Geese in the snow.
• Learn how to use snowshoes and take a guided tour of Pond Dakota Mission Park. Snowshoes will be provided.
• Hear illuminating tales of the perils and possibilities of early American lighting! 
• Warm up by the Pond House fireplace as Miles Jewell demonstrates the unique tools, from candles to whale oil, that early Americans used to light their homes and communities.

This is a free event, open to all as part of Winter Fete 2025. 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. 

Embrace winter with Winter Play Day at locations throughout the Three Rivers Park District. Parks throughout the system will offer a free play day including 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 22, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 
Fee: Free
Registration: None required
Full Details: Three Rivers Park District Winter Play Day