Polar Fest

About the Event

We have a variety of activities going on throughout our festival, so you’re sure to find one you’ll enjoy! From the Polar Fest Plunge to vintage snowmobiles to our famous Frozen Fireworks, there’s something for everyone.

Schedule of Events:

Snowshoe Sundays
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Location: Tamarac Refuge Visitor Center
Embrace winter with a walk through the woods. Free snowshoe rental will be available at the Tamarac Refuge Visitor Center every Sunday January & February 12:00 - 4:00 PM. Volunteers will recommend the perfect snowy trail. You can explore the visitor center, nature store, or enjoy a 2:00 PM nature movie.

Try Nordic Ski Day
 1 PM to 4 PM
Location: Detroit Mountain at the Nordic Ski Trailhead
Join the Detroit Lakes Nordic Ski Club for a skiing fun that will help you with instruction, technique, and confidence as you learn the experience of cross country skiing.

Polar Fest Art Show
1:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Location: Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
The Historic Holmes Theatre will be hosting a Poler Fest art show in the Foltz trucking lounge from February 10th to the 22nd. These are dazzling examples of art done by local members of our Holmes Artist Collective. Works will be for sale, and there will be a closing reception on February 22nd. Gallery hours are as follows: Monday-Friday open 9am-5pm Saturday-Sunday open 1pm-8pm Closing reception on February 22nd is from 1-2:30 in the Foltz trucking lounge. Snacks will be provided, and is open to the public!

Date Night on the Ice
5 PM - 11 AM
Location: On Detroit Lake
Take advantage of this unique destination for your next date! Double dates are welcome, too. Stay for a few hours, or stay overnight it's up to you! You don't even need fishing equipment. All couples will also get access to discounted rental equipment.

The Great Polar Hunt
All Day
Location: Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Individuals and groups are invited to join the Great Polar Hunt! Find the signs around Detroit Lakes, solve the puzzle and register to win prizes! Participation forms are at the Chamber or call 218-847-9202. Registered participants will be emailed the puzzle at noon on February 7th. The email will contain the puzzle you will need to solve by finding hidden signs around Detroit Lakes and surrounding area. All signs will be at area businesses; driving is required. Find the signs and return the completed puzzle to the Detroit Lakes Chamber Office by 12noon, February 24th, 2025. Each completed puzzle will be entered into a drawing for prize packages filled with goodies and local gift cards! One puzzle per paid registration. Winners be drawn on February 24th at 12noon and notified by phone.

Kevin Kling's The Love Show
7 PM
Location: Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Author, playwright, and storyteller-extraordinaire Kevin Kling enlists an all-star cast for an evening all about matters of the heart. When there's danger all about, that's when the call goes out: "Here we come to save the day!" And you know that MIGHTY LOVE is on the way! In a world teaming with Jokers, Riddlers, Penguins and Crime Bosses we say, "Enough is Enough!" It's time to take off the gloves and the scarf and hat. Once again, we've gathered our terrific team of inter-galactic talent, who by day walk among us as mild-mannered Prudence Johnson, Dan Chouinard, Claudia Schmidt, Dane Stauffer, Bradley Greenwald and Simone Perrin, but by night, unleash their superpowers of Country (POW!), Opera (ZAP!), Folk (SHING!), Poetry (RELATE!) and the Spoken Word (MESMERIZE!)

Polartry Poetry Walk
All Day
Location: DL City Park
This event is free and open 24/7! Come out and enjoy our Fourth Annual Polartry Poetry Walk! It's a fun, free public art project with original poetry on display under the beautiful lights in the City Park. Our goal is to celebrate a love of language that inspires and promotes poets of all ages, while also providing outdoor public art that encourages people to get outside and make the most of winter in Minnesota.

Kegs and Pegs Cribbage Tournament
1:00 PM
Location: Bucks Mill Brewing

Click here to Buy Tickets

We want to hear from you if you have an event to share or updates to this event.