Four of the best outdoor events still to come this winter in Rochester
Old Man Winter may be slowly loosening his icy grip on the Med City, but that doesn’t mean that there still isn’t some wintry fun to be had. Below are our four favorite events coming up in the next month.
Valentine’s Candlelight Ski and Snowshoe
Enjoy a trek on the candlelit trails at Quarry Hill Nature Center, and then warm up by the fire with sweets and champagne. Pre-registration is required, and the fee for the event is $20 each ($15 for Quarry Hill members).
Friday, Feb. 12, 7-10 p.m., Quarry Hill Nature Center
Polar Plunge
Take the plunge to raise money for Special Olympics Minnesota, and have some fun while you’re at it. Temperatures for Saturday should hover around 4 degrees – perfect weather for a dip into Foster Arend Lake. Plungers raised more than $211,000 in 2015, and are currently on their way to surpassing that figure this year.
Saturday, Feb, 13, 1:30 p.m., Foster Arend Park
Track Time with Your Little Valentine
Don some snowshoes with your favorite little valentine and learn all about different animal tracks while traversing the trails at Quarry Hill Nature Center. Afterwards, each parent and child pair can warm up while creating a Valentine’s Day craft. Pre-registration is required, and the fee for the event is $15 per a parent/child pair ($12 for Quarry Hill members).
Saturday, Feb. 13, 10:30 a.m.-noon, Quarry Hill Nature Center
SocialICE
Taste signature drinks from each of the seven ice bars, and admire magnificent ice sculptures as Peace Plaza is transformed into a winter wonderland. The event itself is free, and ice bars will be open from 5-9 p.m. on Thursday, and 4-10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
These aren’t the only ways to enjoy what’s left of the wintry weather. While below-freezing temperatures last, the parks department will continue to maintain the ice skating rink at Solider’s Field; other free outdoor rinks are located throughout the city.
Volunteer groomers from the Rochester Outdoor Sports Club also maintain cross-country ski trails at several area parks, including Oxbow Park, Essex Park and Quarry Hill Nature Center.
About Claire Walling: Claire is a contributing editor for the Med City Beat. She moved to Rochester two years ago from the Twin Cities after graduating from Hamline University. When she’s not working as a business writer she enjoys running the great trails around the region, designing and creating things, and drinking coffee. Fun fact: she was on a relay team that ran across Iowa in 54 hours. Twitter.
Featured content:
(Cover photo: File / CC)
