Exploring Winter Wonderland: A Guide to Festive Activities in St. Paul, MN
Winter is the most wonderful time of the year in St. Paul, MN, from admiring Christmas lights to gliding around the Langford Park ice skating rink with your loved ones. All the exciting winter activities in St. Paul will thaw even the coldest feelings about this snowy time of year!
Ready to discover your own wintertime adventure? Read more about holiday festivals and other winter activities in St. Paul with your friends at Five Star Storage.
Be Dazzled by Christmas Lights in St. Paul
St. Paul’s chilly weather makes it the perfect spot to feel warm and fuzzy during the holiday season. What better way to get in the spirit than Christmas lights? You can find plenty of festive locales in and around the city to get your fill of holiday cheer, from strolling around Rice Park to catching an open-air bus tour of the town with the Twin Cities All is Bright Holiday Lights Tour.
Among the many hot spots you can spot some Christmas lights are the following:
- GLOW Holiday Festival. This winter lights festival is a family favorite in St. Paul. Make sure to take plenty of selfies, especially by the ice palace.
- Summit Avenue. If you head to Summit Avenue, home of the Minnesota Governor’s Residence and many beautiful, historic homes. You can take a stroll down the lane or enjoy the lights from the warmth of your car.
- Union Depot. Looking for a tree that would make the Griswolds proud? You have to see the holiday tree at Union Depot.
- York Avenue. Swing by 1526 York Avenue to witness over 90,000 lights, synchronized to the tunes on 91.5 FM. You can catch this delightful light show between 5:00 and 10:00 p.m. from now until Dec. 31.
St. Paul Winter Carnival
The St. Paul Winter Carnival is a must-dowinter activity in St. Paul, whether you’ve lived here your whole life or recently moved to town. This 17-day festival kicks off in early January, as it has since 1886, and features three parades, ice and snow carvings, energetic, live music, and countless family-friendly activities. For folks ages 21 and over, you can even warm yourself up with the carnival’s legendary beer festival.
You can also conveniently enjoy many of the St. Paul Winter Carnival events in Rice Park, making the fun even more accessible. While you’ll have to wait until January 25 to enjoy the 2024 St. Paul Winter Carnival, you’ll have something to look forward to throughout the chilly months after New Year’s Eve!
St. Paul Skating and Hockey Rinks
It would be a shame if we made it through this blog post about winter activities in St. Paul without mentioning ice skating and hockey. Whether you’re an ice skating pro or lucky to stay upright for at least one lap, you can enjoy ice skating fun in St. Paul. You can check out any of St. Paul’s rinks, their hours, and types of rinks in this handy map.
Escapades in Ice Castles
You’ll feel like you’ve been transported to another world when you witness Ice Castles in Minnesota. Located about 25 minutes outside St. Paul in Maple Grove, this winter wonderland of impressive icy architecture is worth the drive. You’ll find ice slides, crawl spaces, and caverns for kids of all ages to enjoy, and there’s even a polar pub for adults to top off the night with.
Shred Some Powder
Snowboarding, skiing, downhill sledding, or whatever shredding some powder means to you, St. Paul has you covered. You can find some great hot spots in and around town for DIY sledding, or if you’re looking for something more “official,” head to Como Park Ski Center to take on Mount Como and all the fun it offers.
Enjoy Local Shopping
Are you looking for something more laid back for your winter activity agenda? When you need a break from ice skating and high-energy festive events, you can unwind and stroll the shops throughout the city. In addition to supporting local shops, you can deck the halls with maker’s markets and holiday pop-ups all over St. Paul. Find your next Christmas keepsake or that one-of-a-kind festive decoration you’ll cherish for years to come.
Go Wild at Como Park Zoo & Conservatory
If you love the winter but also love feeling your fingers and toes, we’ve got the spot for you. Como Park Zoo & Conservatory is the perfect winter activity in St. Paul without spending too much time outdoors. In addition to seeing a variety of animals, you can hit pause on the snowy scenery and step into a green oasis with the zoo’s beautiful plant-filled conservatory. You can check out the conservatory’s winter flower show to make it even better.
Find Your Winter Groove With Five Star Storage
No matter what kind of exciting winter activities you plan to enjoy in St. Paul, from shopping till you drop to becoming the next Shaun White of snowboarding, all this fun will require some space. When you need to stash your holiday décor or give your outdoor snow gear a place to live once spring returns, you can count on Five Star Storage.
We offer affordable, convenient self storage in and near St. Paul. Contact us online or find one of our self storage facilities near you today!