SNOfest Winter Festival

❄️ SnoFest 2026 at Carlos Creek Winery – January 17, 2026 | Alexandria, Minnesota ❄️
Your new favorite Minnesota winter festival has officially arrived.

If you love Grape Stomp, if you love Oktoberfest, and if you really love embracing everything that makes Minnesota winters magical — then SnoFest at Carlos Creek Winery & 22 Northmen Brewing Co. is your new must-attend winter tradition.

Happening January 17, 2026 (over Martin Luther King Jr. Day weekend) SnoFest brings together the best of Minnesota winter fun, local food and drinks, and a cozy-meets-chill atmosphere that you can only find in Alexandria, MN.

FREE ADMISSION!

What to Expect at SnoFest 2026 (activites are weather dependent):

ALL-DAY WINTER FUN| 11:00 AM–5:00 PM

• ICE BAR OPEN, outside winery tasting room
  • featuring special festival sno-rita & no sno-rita
• BEER & CIDER POKING, outdoors
• CARLOS CREEK WINE, 22 NORTHMEN BEER, N/A OPTIONS, grand hall/tasting room/taproom
• SNOWFLAKE SPRITZ FESTIVAL COCKTAIL & MOCKTAIL, winery tasting room
• HOT COCOA BAR, grand hall
• ICE SCULPTURE VIEWING, outdoors
• MN WILD GAME ON THE BIG SCREEN (11:30 AM), grand hall

ICE SCULPTURES

• LIVE ICE SCULPTURE DEMO | 12:00–3:00 PM, outdoors
• SCULPTURE LIGHTING | ~around 5:15 PM, outdoors

FOOD

• HOT, DELICIOUS PIZZA | 11:00 AM-8:00 PM, stoke pizza
• CHILI WITH CORNBREAD MUFFIN | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM, grand hall
• CARLOS CREEK COOKIES & PUPPY CHOW BARS | 11:00 AM-5:00 PM, grand hall

LIVE MUSIC

• ROBB JUSTICE | 12:00 PM-3:00 PM , grand hall
• NATE FRONNING | 1:00–4:00 PM , taproom
• JACKSON BURNS | 5:00–8:00 PM, taproom

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN

• FREE FACE PAINTING & HAIR TINSEL | 12:00-3:00 PM, grand hall
• KID SLED PARADE | 2:00 PM | outside winery tasting room
  • kids, bring your own sled decorated in a winter olympic theme
  • meet by the winery tasting room
  • prize for participation
• KIDS COLORING AREA, grand hall
• ARCADE GAMES (pay to play), grand hall creekside room

CONTESTS

• CRAZIEST WINTER HAT CONTEST | 3:00 PM, grand hall
  • 21+ only; winner takes home a “hibernation stash”

A full day celebrating community, winter, and the best of Minnesota living

Outdoor activities run until 6pm, and indoor live music from 6-9 pm in the 22 Northmen Brewing Co. taproom.

Perfect for anyone searching for:
• Minnesota winter festivals
• Things to do in Alexandria MN in winter
• Winter events near me
• Holiday and seasonal pop-up events in Minnesota
• Ice bars, ice sculptures, and outdoor winter experiences

 Bundle up, rally your people, and join us for a day of icy wonder, warm drinks, and signature Minnesota fun.

A huge thank-you to our incredible local sponsors for helping bring this community winter festival to life: ACE Hardware, Alex Rubbish & Recycling, Alomere Health, Explore Alexandria, Zimny Insurance Agency, Vantage Bank, Winning Edge, Leighton Media, Geneva Capital.

SnoFest 2026: Where winter magic meets Minnesota nice. See you January 17! ❄️