Celebrating place.
Cultivating community.
The Great Northern unites communities through art, climate engagement, and outdoor experiences. Through our annual festival and year-round projects, we invite our community to come together, celebrate what makes our region special, and imagine what’s possible when we invest in each other and in the place we call home.
Jan 28 – Feb 1, 2026
The Great
Northern Winter Festival
Join us for 5 days of transformative programming designed to unite communities through art, climate action & outdoor celebration.
Passes are on sale Wednesday, November 12
Our work
A bold winter festival
Every year The Great Northern puts on a winter festival that celebrates our coldest season as a time to gather, create, and connect. It’s an open invitation to engage with the outdoors, experience art and culture, and embrace winter, together.
Year-round programming
The Great Northern is here in every season! When we’re not busy planning our Winter Festival, we’re out and about in the community—hosting year-round programs like The Great Northern Reads, supporting local festivals, and collaborating with artists and partners.
Artist and event development
Our artist and festival development initiatives nurture the next generation of creative voices through mentorship, resources, and collaboration. We help local festival producers and emerging artists bring new ideas to life—offering production support, skill building and networking opportunities to strengthen Minnesota’s creative ecosystem.
Support local stories. Inspire local action.
Rooted: Stories from Minnesota’s Farming Future
This winter will mark the world premiere of The Great Northern’s first original documentary, Rooted :Stories from Minnesota’s Farming Future Directed and produced by Liz Tracey, this documentary short follows the day-to-day lives of two Minnesota farmers, offering an intimate portrait of small-scale agriculture in the Upper Midwest. Rooted is a love letter to land stewardship and climate resilience, reminding us that local solutions can respond to global challenges and model a more sustainable food future for all.
The Great Northern in action
Big thanks to our supporters!
