Winter Fete

Winter Fete 2025

Join Bloomington Parks and Recreation along with community partners this winter as we embrace the season during the 21st Annual Winter Fete celebration. See below for a list of activities taking place beginning in December 2024, and check back often as new events and other details may be added. All Winter Fete activities are free unless otherwise noted, and fun for the whole family!

Holiday Gift Making - Painting a Ceramic Keepsake: Dec. 2, 2024

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

Global Fat Bike Day: Dec. 7, 2024

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.

Winter Lights Tour: December 2024

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.

NYE Skate: Dec. 31, 2024

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.

Snowshoeing: December - February 2025

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

Introduction to Ice Fishing: January - March 2025

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.

Medallion Hunt: January 2025

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!