Festival Schedule

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Founding Partner Event: Saint Paul Winter Carnival The Saint Paul Winter Carnival presents various events across Saint Paul including ice carving competitions, family-friendly artistic and educational activities, and much more.
Chill Out: The Great Northern Launch Party6:00 PM - 8:00 PMBundle up and join us at The Great Northern’s kick off party—featuring live music and warming food and beverages.
Aya Ogawa: The Nosebleed8:00 PM - 9:30 PMInnovative playwright and director Aya Ogawa's hit show irreverently and boldly delves into what it takes to forgive through a series of absurd autobiographical vignettes.
Ariana Kim & Steve Heitzeg: light/see + dark/hear10:15 AM - 11:45 AMComposer Steve Heitzeg and violinist/improviser Ariana Kim offer a multi-movement, immersive work for solo violin and other instruments inspired by contemporary visual works at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Ariana Kim & Steve Heitzeg: light/see + dark/hear2:15 PM - 3:45 PMComposer Steve Heitzeg and violinist/improviser Ariana Kim offer a multi-movement, immersive work for solo violin and other instruments inspired by contemporary visual works at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
The Great Northern Ice Bar4:00 PM - 7:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
Aya Ogawa: The Nosebleed8:00 PM - 9:30 PMInnovative playwright and director Aya Ogawa's hit show irreverently and boldly delves into what it takes to forgive through a series of absurd autobiographical vignettes.
Birds and the Changing Climate: Lessons From Across the Western Hemisphere10:00 AM - 11:00 AMWhat can we learn about climate change and bird species from their migratory patterns? Join us as international representatives of the National Audubon Society delve into the migratory patterns of several bird species.
Dance Church10:00 AM - 11:30 AMGet together, get moving, and build some midwinter heat with this all-abilities movement class offering a fun and inclusive approach to dancing.
Ariana Kim & Steve Heitzeg: light/see + dark/hear10:15 AM - 11:45 AMComposer Steve Heitzeg and violinist/improviser Ariana Kim offer a multi-movement, immersive work for solo violin and other instruments inspired by contemporary visual works at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Curating Climate Change11:30 AM - 12:30 PMExplore climate-focused curatorial positions in contemporary art institutions with John Kenneth Paranada (Sainsbury Centre Curator of Art and Climate Change), Soren Brothers (Allan and Helaine Shiff Curator of Climate Change at the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto), and Miranda Massie (Founder and Director, Climate Museum in New York).
Trend Alert: How the Fashion Act Could Change the Fashion Industry1:00 PM - 2:00 PMJoin fashion law and policy expert Betina Baumgarten and award-winning writer and editor Kate Nelson to explore how The Fashion Act can serve as a regulatory and legislative framework for driving systemic change in the fashion industry.
The Great Northern Ice Bar2:00 PM - 6:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
Ariana Kim & Steve Heitzeg: light/see + dark/hear2:15 PM - 3:45 PMComposer Steve Heitzeg and violinist/improviser Ariana Kim offer a multi-movement, immersive work for solo violin and other instruments inspired by contemporary visual works at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Minnesota Climate Leadership2:30 PM - 3:00 PMVisionary state leaders will speak on the profound implications of historic new environmental legislation and policy changes in Minnesota.
Emerging Careers in Climate3:30 PM - 4:30 PMJoin us for a series of “spark talks”—short presentations by experts in their field—that highlight a wide range of climate-related career options.
Gloria Walton: Solidarity Philanthropy, For the Love of Humanity5:00 PM - 6:00 PMHear from Gloria Walton (President and CEO of The Solutions Project) as she shares her insights on the importance of community-led climate justice solutions, what it means to be in solidarity with frontline communities, and her ceaseless commitment to creating a more sustainable future.
Morgan Thorson: Untitled Night5:30 PM - 6:00 PMA 30-minute outdoor nocturnal dance event on Silver Lake—drawing inspiration from night skies and the dynamic winter of the Upper Midwest featuring a collective body of queer interdisciplinary collaborators.
Morgan Thorson: Untitled Night7:00 PM - 7:30 PMA 30-minute outdoor nocturnal dance event on Silver Lake—drawing inspiration from night skies and the dynamic winter of the Upper Midwest featuring a collective body of queer interdisciplinary collaborators.
MSP Film Series: Smoke Sauna Sisterhood7:00 PM - 9:00 PMCleansing their bodies and baring their souls, women embrace the healing power of sisterhood inside an Estonian smoke sauna.
Tunde Olaniran: Chaotic Good8:00 PM - 9:00 PMFlint, Michigan-born musician, filmmaker, and artist Tunde Olaniran subverts the status quo and delivers messages on environmental and social justice through a genre-bending blend of pop, soul, and experimental electronic sounds.
Aya Ogawa: The Nosebleed8:00 PM - 9:30 PMInnovative playwright and director Aya Ogawa's hit show irreverently and boldly delves into what it takes to forgive through a series of absurd autobiographical vignettes.
Frozen Footgolf Snow Sculpting10:00 AM - 3:00 PMGrab your friends and shovels and join in a day of play in the snow! Alongside teams of professional artists, creatively design and sculpt a hole to be part of a collaborative frozen footgolf course.
Ariana Kim & Steve Heitzeg: light/see + dark/hear10:15 AM - 11:45 AMComposer Steve Heitzeg and violinist/improviser Ariana Kim offer a multi-movement, immersive work for solo violin and other instruments inspired by contemporary visual works at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Sustainability in Northern Design11:00 AM - 12:00 PMHalifax-based award winning architect Omar Gandhi will join MCAD President Sanjit Sethi for a conversation about environmental inspiration and sustainable design in Northern climates.
The Great Northern Ice Bar12:00 PM - 4:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
Andrew Zimmern and Sam Kass: 2 Degrees12:30 PM - 1:30 PMFormer Obama White House chef and political advisor Sam Kass and Minnesota-based, James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern will discuss food systems and cutting edge climate solutions.
Learning from Place: Bdote (Sold Out)1:00 PM - 3:00 PMAn immersive experience that invites participants to visit, inhabit, and expand their understanding of Twin Cities sites with deep significance to Dakota people.
Sustainability at the Intersection of Growth and Impact: How Companies Are Addressing Climate2:00 PM - 3:00 PMA panel discussion on corporate sustainability initiatives that create positive impact and progress for business, people, and planet.
Ariana Kim & Steve Heitzeg: light/see + dark/hear2:15 PM - 3:45 PMComposer Steve Heitzeg and violinist/improviser Ariana Kim offer a multi-movement, immersive work for solo violin and other instruments inspired by contemporary visual works at the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Building Community and Connection Through Winter Sports3:30 PM - 4:30 PMExplore the opportunity of the outdoors and how winter sports in Minnesota and beyond are impacted by climate change with professional climber Graham Zimmerman and Melanin in Motion founder Anthony Taylor.
Made a Universe screening4:00 PM - 6:30 PMMusician, artist, and filmmaker Tunde Olaniran’s debut short film Made a Universe combines science fiction and social realism, and tropes from horror movies and TikTok videos to comment on serious issues such as environmental injustice and the carceral state.
Pattie Gonia: How We Can Learn from Nature to Be Better Advocates for Our Planet (Sold Out)5:00 PM - 6:00 PMCritically acclaimed drag queen, environmentalist, and Outdoorist Oath co-founder Pattie Gonia will share how we can advocate for inclusivity and diversity and highlight ways in which we can learn from nature to be an ally to our planet and the environmental justice movement.
Project Drawdown: Storytelling as a Climate Solution (Sold Out)7:00 PM - 8:30 PMThis immersive, multidisciplinary event will feature live storytelling, artistic performances, and video clips of everyday Minnesotans sharing reflections of climate change and climate solutions, demonstrating the tremendous impact of addressing climate change through personal narrative.
Sam Kass: The Last Supper7:00 PM - 9:00 PMA last-in-a-lifetime dining event exploring the intersection of food, place, agriculture, and climate. With Chefs Sam Kass, Andrew Zimmern, and Marque Collins.
Víkingur Ólafsson in Conversation with Dave King (Sold Out)5:30 PM - 6:30 PMJoin Icelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson for an intimate conversation with drummer, composer and Minneapolis treasure Dave King ahead of his Schubert Club recitals at the Ordway.
Winter Roast: Comedy from the North7:00 PM - 9:00 PMAn evening of comedy bringing the heat we crave with belly laughs courtesy of Midwest-born comics Khadijah Cooper, Ali Sultan, Mary Mack, and Jenny Zigrino.
Art Speaks: Celebrating the 2023 McKnight Fellows in Fiber Art6:00 PM - 7:30 PMAn engaging conversation celebrating the work and vision of 2023 McKnight Fiber Art Fellows Marjorie Fedyszyn and Delina White.
K'óoben pop-up6:00 PM - 9:00 PMJoin us for a pop-up experience with food collective K’óoben featuring chefs who will explore what it means to be crafting and cooking in the middle of winter in Minnesota.
Víkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg Variations7:30 PM - 9:00 PMIcelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, the “new superstar of classical piano” (The Daily Telegraph), makes his Great Northern debut with an intimate midwinter performance of J.S. Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations.
Víkingur Ólafsson: Goldberg Variations10:30 AM - 12:00 PMIcelandic pianist Víkingur Ólafsson, the “new superstar of classical piano” (The Daily Telegraph), makes his Great Northern debut with an intimate midwinter performance of J.S. Bach’s iconic Goldberg Variations.
The Great Northern Ice Bar4:00 PM - 7:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
MSP Film Series: The Electric Indian7:00 PM - 9:00 PMA feature documentary profiling hockey legend Henry Boucha’s outstanding life and hockey career.
American Composers Forum’s McKnight Composer Fellows Concert: Mychal “MMYYKK” Fisher, deVon Russell Gray, LaAerial, and Troy Rogers (aka Robot Rickshaw)7:30 PM - 9:30 PMA showcase of American Composer Forum’s most recent cohort of McKnight Composer Fellows: Mychal “MMYYKK” Fisher, deVon Russell Gray, LaAerial, and Troy Rogers (aka Robot Rickshaw).
Minnesota Orchestra and Sphinx Virtuosi11:00 AM - 1:00 PMThe Sphinx Virtuosi shares the stage with the Minnesota Orchestra in a program featuring Michael Abels’ Global Warming, Astor Piazzolla’s Winter and Summer, Carlos Simon’s meditative Breathe, and Angélica Negrón’s immersive Marejada.
The Great Northern Ice Bar4:00 PM - 7:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
Walker Art Center: Festival of Snow5:00 PM - 9:00 PMCelebrate winter and the Walker Art Center’s collection by joining us for an evening of cold weather adventure creativity.
A Winter’s Table6:00 PM - 8:00 PMAward-winning local chef and restaurateur Gavin Kaysen and his Mara staff collaborate with celebrated Swedish chef and Team USA culinary director Sebastian Gibrand on a Scandinavian menu and interactive culinary experience.
Broken Ice: Indigenous Sonic Salve from the North7:00 PM - 9:30 PMBroken Ice: Indigenous Sonic Salve from the North brings northern Indigenous bands to the First Avenue’s main stage—featuring Ya Tseen, Bizhiki, and Aku Matu.
The Great Northern Ice Bar4:00 PM - 7:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
Midwinter Melt5:00 PM - 9:00 PMBreak out of your winter routine and join The Great Northern, Silverwood Park, Melanin in Motion, and Target for an evening of spectacular shadows, mesmerizing lights, and outdoor fun on a frozen Silver Lake.
Wintering Well Series: Restore // BIPOC Bathing Session6:00 PM - 9:00 PMThis bathing session for the BIPOC* community and facilitated by Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary’s Rebeka Ndosi invites participants to soak, steam, and sauna for a restorative experience.
First Look: Arctic Highways6:00 PM - 9:00 PMBe the first to experience exhibitions Arctic Highways: Unbounded Indigenous People and Mygration at this evening preview party featuring Indigenous music, live reindeer, make-and-take crafts, and more.
Minnesota Orchestra and Sphinx Virtuosi8:00 PM - 10:00 PMThe Sphinx Virtuosi shares the stage with the Minnesota Orchestra in a program featuring Michael Abels’ Global Warming, Astor Piazzolla’s Winter and Summer, Carlos Simon’s meditative Breathe, and Angélica Negrón’s immersive Marejada.
Founding Partner Event: City of Lakes Loppet The Great Northern founding partner The Loppet Foundation’s City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival encompasses a variety of unique outdoor activities in and around Theodore Wirth Park and Lake of the Isles in Minneapolis.
Wintering Well Series: Heal // Wellness, Rest and Healing: Lessons from the Northwoods10:00 AM - 11:00 AMWintertime can be a sacred time to align with nature and invite us to rest deeply. Join Rebeka Ndosi (Founder, Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary) for a mindful conversation about radical self-care, rest, healing, and wellness/wholeness in the North.
Walk & Talk: North Mississippi Regional Park10:00 AM - 11:30 AMExplore the serene trails of North Mississippi Regional park on a small-group guided walk led by a local park expert.
Walker Art Center: First Free Saturday Festival of Snow10:00 AM - 3:00 PMCelebrate the season of snow with wintry outdoor activities and cozy indoor fun for all ages.
The Great Northern Ice Bar2:00 PM - 6:00 PMThe Great Northern joins forces with Minnesota Ice to craft a bespoke 100-plus foot ice bar inspired by Minnesota’s natural beauty and expansive community of mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.
Dreaming Our Futures: Ojibwe and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ Artists and Knowledge Keepers Exhibition Opening Reception4:00 PM - 8:00 PMCelebrate the opening of The Katherine E. Nash Gallery’s exhibition Dreaming Our Futures: Ojibwe and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ Artists and Knowledge Keepers, presented during The Great Northern 2024.
Minnesota Orchestra and Sphinx Virtuosi7:00 PM - 9:00 PMThe Sphinx Virtuosi shares the stage with the Minnesota Orchestra in a program featuring Michael Abels’ Global Warming, Astor Piazzolla’s Winter and Summer, Carlos Simon’s meditative Breathe, and Angélica Negrón’s immersive Marejada.
Wintering Well: Thrive // Wintering Well Morning Flow Yoga + Wellness Workshop9:30 AM - 10:30 AMThis 60-minute session will begin with a grounding and inspired all-levels yoga class led by Heidi Zimmer (Founder, Wild Rice Retreat) and breathwork and meditation by Rebeka Ndosi (Founder, Maji ya Chai Land Sanctuary).
Learning from Place: Bdote (Sold Out)1:00 PM - 3:00 PMAn immersive experience that invites participants to visit, inhabit, and expand their understanding of Twin Cities sites with deep significance to Dakota people.