Jan 23–
Feb 2, 2025

Minneapolis & Saint Paul

Click here to flip through our festival program!

Tickets now available!

Join us for ten days full of outdoor activities, live music, art, dining experiences, and community conversations that capture the spirit of the region and showcase the joy and possibility of the North’s most famous season.

See the full lineup

  • The Great Northern Sauna Village

    Check out our pop-up Sauna Village in the heart of Minneapolis! Book 60-90 minute self-guided sessions or attend one of our community days or special programs.

    The Great Northern Sauna Village

  • Art & Live Music

    We’re showcasing the region’s art scene with live music, film, art, readings, and more!

    Art & Live Music Events

  • Outdoor Activities

    Let’s get together and get outside! With winter runs, guided nature walks, and family-friendly outdoor activities, The Great Northern offers something for everyone.

    Outdoor Events

  • Dining Experiences

    Explore the best of the region’s food scene. Enjoy cocktails at the Ice Bar, visit pop-up food halls, and gather for community dinners featuring seasonal menus. 

    Dining Experiences

  • Climate Solution Series

    Join us for a weekend full of community discussion, workshops, talks, and live podcasts focused on climate change and climate action.

    Climate Solution Series

Let the climate
change you.

The Great Northern is grounded in the celebration of Minnesota’s unique climate and winter traditions. As an organization, we are deeply committed to addressing climate change and fostering community dialogue about the future of our environment and our region.

Festival highlights:

2025
The Great Northern Launch Party 2025
Jan 23
The Great Northern Launch Party 2025

We’re kicking off The Great Northern in true Minnesota fashion! Enjoy guided sauna sessions, catch Prince’s iconic Sign O’The Times concert projected onto the United Crushers building, and sip our signature cocktails around fire pits located on the Malcolm Yards patio.

The Great Northern Ice Bar
Jan 24
The Great Northern Ice Bar

The Great Northern and Minnesota Ice are teaming up to bring you a 50-foot ice bar with a menu curated by Steady Pour—featuring specialty drinks from Minneapolis and St. Paul mixologists, breweries, and distilleries.

Jeremy Dutcher: Motewolonuwok ᒣᑏᐧᐁᓓᓄᐧᐁᒃ
Jan 24
Jeremy Dutcher: Motewolonuwok ᒣᑏᐧᐁᓓᓄᐧᐁᒃ

Indigenous Two-Spirit singer and composer Jeremy Dutcher (Tobique First Nation) makes his Minnesota debut at the Great Northern 2025 with a show at Ice House.

Britt Wray and Leah Thomas in conversation
Jan 25
Britt Wray and Leah Thomas in conversation

This session is sold out.

Dr. Britt Wray, Director of CIRCLE at Stanford Psychiatry and author of Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Crisis, joins Leah Thomas, Founder of Intersectional Environmentalist, to discuss navigating climate anxiety by fostering hope through taking action and building meaningful community.

The sauna village is a can’t-miss part of your festival experience!

Try out various traditional wood-fired saunas, all in one place. The Great Northern Sauna Village includes various backyard, barrel, and mobile units, cold plunges, and more!