I went to the Winter Skolstice event at the Omni Viking Lakes Hotel in Eagan, MN last week. Similar to many things I do, this event was the first time I attended. If you follow me you know how much I like doing new things. The Winter Skolstice was an event I wanted to attend last year but didn’t get a chance to go to. I was not going to let that happen again.
The warm weather was a blessing and a curse. On one hand, an outdoor event on a warm winter day is a great way to get some fresh air without your nostrils freezing together. But it also means events centered around snow and ice can be shut down quickly.
After some thought, I decided we should still check out this year’s Winter Skolstice event.
This article may contain affiliate links or ads. When you click these links, I may get a small commission. This does not cost you anything but helps me run this site. I only promote products I have used and enjoy.
What is Winter Skolstice
The Winter Skolstice is a 45-day outdoor event that celebrates all things winter in Minnesota. Much like the World Snow Sculpting Championship, most of this event is outside. Hardy Minnesotans enjoy the outdoors even in the winter. But finding new and fun things to do can be tricky. That is where events like the Winter Skolstice really help keep winter moving along into spring.
Winter Skolstice Location
The Winter Skolstice is located on the grounds of the Omni Viking Lakes hotel in Eagan, Minnesota. The Omni Viking Lakes hotel is part of the Minnesota Vikings Training complex near the TCO Stadium and TCO Performance Center.
The complex is approximately 15 minutes south of downtown St Paul off interstate 494 between Dodd Road and Delaware Ave.
The Omni Viking Lakes hotel sits on one end of the complex overlooking the TCO Performance Center and TCO Stadium. Between the hotel and the stadium is the home to the Winter Skolstice Events.
When is the Winter Skolstice
The Winter Skolstice event starts in early January and runs through mid-February. Check the website for event dates and changes. As I mentioned before this year’s warmer temperatures resulted in some canceled dates due to unsafe ice conditions. They even made the decision to close everything a week early.
What is there to do at the Winter Skolstice Event
The Winter Skolstice Event revolves around winter sports that are popular in Minnesota: hockey, figure skating, and curling. Every year the event staff turns the frozen pond into several different ice sports rinks.
I’ll start with hockey.
The hockey rinks are set up like a traditional pond hockey rink; with short walls and giant flood lights on polls around the perimeter. Add in a couple of simple wood benches and makeshift goalie nets and the rink is set.
Hockey is a way of life for many people in Minnesota. There is not much better than seeing the raw form of the game.
There is a cost to use the rink and you need to make a reservation. Check out the website for availability and costs. But don’t worry, if you don’t get a reservation or even play hockey, it’s still fun to watch!
There is also Figure Skating
Next to the hockey rinks, at the Winter Skolstice, there is a cleared ice skating oval for those of us who don’t play hockey. Yes, I have to admit, I grew up in Minnesota and I’ve never had a pair of hockey skates on. I’ll give those of you from Minnesota a minute to pick yourself up off the floor.
While I’ve never had on hockey skates, I have been in figure skates. I don’t claim to be very good but I do know the basic concept. Full disclosure, I can skate forward with no problem…stopping however requires either me coasting to a stop or running into a snowbank.
Growing up, we would go ice fishing as a family on one of the many lakes. We would spend most of the time shoveling off a skating rink next to the fishing holes. By the time a rink was cleared we were so tired and cold we would stake for about 15 minutes and then be ready to go home. It is still however an awesome memory and seeing the pond rinks warmed my heart.
The skating oval at Winter Skolstice is free for anyone.
Most near and dear to my heart – Curling is also an option
Curling has only recently become well known because of the US Curling team’s run to Olympic gold medals in 2018. I however fell in love with this sport many years earlier. I started curling when I was about 13 years old.
About 10 years later, I moved to a city where the closes curling club was over 100 miles away and I have not stepped foot on a curling sheet since. Even though I have not been on a curling sheet in years, I’ve never stopped loving the sport.
The Winter Skolstice event has two curling sheets. They are half sheets with only three stones for each team. Unfortunately, when we were there the ice conditions were not good for curling, so the sheets were closed. But I did feel a pull on my heartstrings when I saw the ice. Maybe next year, I can get a time slot and go.
You need to make a reservation for curling so check the website for times.
What is there to do if you don’t do sports?
Don’t skate or curl? No interest in learning? Winter Skolstice has you covered too! No outdoor winter event in Minnesota would be complete without a beer tent.
The Warming Haus is not like any beer tent I’ve ever seen.
The Winter Skolstice Warming Haus is filled with not only dining tables and chairs. But also couches, padded foot rests stools and cozy accent chairs! There were two gas fireplaces and numerous space heaters to keep the tent cozy and warm. Maybe even too warm. Everyone had to take their coats, hats, and mittens off when they came inside.
They offered a full bar, several different wines, and of course some tap and bottled beer. I tried the Bald Man Brewing Company, Winter Solstice Cream Ale. It was delicious!!
They also offered a limited food menu. Mostly sandwiches, pizza, and a hotdog bar.
On some weekends the Winter Skolstice Warming Haus has live music. The band playing the night we were there was awesome and took online requests.
Is there anything else at the Winter Skolstice?
Why, yes there is more to the Winter Skolstice! Check out the Minnesota Ice Maze located at the Omni Viking Lakes hotel grounds. The Minnesota Ice Maze claims to be the largest ice maze in the Twin Cities. The fully lit maze was so much fun to wander through.
There were numerous twists and turns with ice thrones and benches, ice sculptures, and even a scavenger hunt.
The Minnesota Ice Maze requires a special ticket and has reserved time slots for entry. Check out their website for availability and prices.
Looking for something more relaxed?
The grounds at the Winter Skolstice event also have several bonfires going. Grab a drink from the Warming Haus and snuggle up next to your honey or hang out with your friends.
Should you go?
ABSOLUTELY!!! While there were a few things that changed because of the warm weather this year, we still had a great time at the Winter Skolstice event. Enjoy the energy of playing and watching sports, the playful nature of “getting lost” in the ice maze, or relaxing in the Warming Haus and around the bonfires.
We decided to make a weekend of events by renting a room too. Check back soon for my post on the Omni Viking Lakes hotel.
I am not a professional in any of the topics discussed on Adventures at Home and Away. All content on Adventures at Home and Away is for informational and educational purposes only. All comments made are my personal opinion and should not be used as professional advice.
Photography on Adventures at Home and Away is protected by copyright and licensing agreements. No photographs may be copied or reused unless a proper license agreement has been obtained.
