The Great Northern

Website Contact the university

The Great Northern The Great Northern Winter Festival returns! Jan 28 — Feb 1, 2026

10/30/2026

Send this post to a community organization you want to see at The Great Northern.

This year, as part of our commitment to making the festival accessible, we are puts free passes in the hands of the organizations serving their communities.

The Community Pass Program allows organizations to receive up to 50 free day passes to distribute according to their mission: as thank you’s to staff and volunteers, as a gift to your educators, artists, and program partners, or to the community members you serve.

To claim your passes, fill out the short request form found at the link in our bio. Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis through January 1st, or until passes run out.

Passes are limited, so we encourage interested organizations to apply early.

We can’t wait to winter with you.

The Great Northern Reads is heading into the kitchen with its first-ever cookbook club. We’ll be cooking our way through...
10/26/2026

The Great Northern Reads is heading into the kitchen with its first-ever cookbook club. We’ll be cooking our way through “Happy Snacking, Don’t Die!” but Alexis Nikole Nelson (Alexis Nikole 🌾🍀), a speaker at the 2027 festival.

Join us (for free!) at our “The Great Northern Reads” channel, found in our ig bio. Or, sign up for our book club newsletter for bi-weekly updates. We can’t wait to cook with you.

10/22/2026

“Showing up for your community is a year-round endeavor”

Multimedia artist Sam Hirschhorn created this look back at the last 10 years of the Great Northern. From climate conversations to winter bike rides, we’ve always grounded ourselves in the truth that winter is easier to get through when we do it together.

Black Forager is coming to Minneapolis.Join Alexis Nikole Nelson at The Great Northern Winter Festival as she discusses ...
10/21/2026

Black Forager is coming to Minneapolis.

Join Alexis Nikole Nelson at The Great Northern Winter Festival as she discusses her NYT bestselling book “Happy Snacking, Don’t Die!” with award-winning TV personality, chef, writer, and social justice advocate Andrew Zimmern. A book signing and meet-and-greet will follow their conversation.

🗓️ Saturday, January 30th
⏰ 10 AM
📍 Nicollet Island Pavilion
🎟️ Included with festival pass

Passes are available as part of The Great Northern Winter Festival, which celebrates climate and culture in Minnesota each winter. Get yours today at thegreatnorthern.org.

Before she joined The Great Northern as Executive Director, Jovan C. Speller Rebollar was a featured artist at the 2022 ...
10/19/2026

Before she joined The Great Northern as Executive Director, Jovan C. Speller Rebollar was a featured artist at the 2022 festival for a collaborative work with Andy DuCett, “Conservatory.”

Their work transformed a downtown Saint Paul alley into an ice-enclosed greenhouse thriving with hundreds of deeply hued plants — from black cone flowers to velvet petunias. Contact microphones embedded in the ice amplified the environment’s subtle shifts, creating an immersive experience designed to center and preserve Black life.

As we celebrate 10 winters this year, we’re turning back the page to remember the many ways this community winters.

Introducing The Great Northern Artist In Residence: Emily Quandahl.Over the next year, Quandahl will shape a large-scale...
10/15/2026

Introducing The Great Northern Artist In Residence: Emily Quandahl.

Over the next year, Quandahl will shape a large-scale outdoor sculpture designed to embrace Minnesota’s seasons. The finished piece will be influenced by the community, from the local histories of Minnesota quilt guilds to public making workshops.

We’re proud to support Minnesota artists. Please join us in warmly welcoming Emily to The Great Northern family.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Winter your way. With our new Sauna Flex Pass, join us for 4 open steam sessions any day, any time.We’ll be sweating it ...
10/14/2026

Winter your way. With our new Sauna Flex Pass, join us for 4 open steam sessions any day, any time.

We’ll be sweating it out on Nicollet Island Jan 27 - 31. Get your pass today. Link in bio.

10/09/2026

What’s yours?

Slow down. Stay out late. Try something new.Find your people.See the city differently. Discover endless ways to winter w...
10/07/2026

Slow down.
Stay out late.
Try something new.
Find your people.
See the city differently.

Discover endless ways to winter with The Festival Supporter Pass, available now.
Early bird pricing for a limited time.

10/06/2026

Now available: get your Festival Supporter Pass for the 2027 Festival 🩵

The Great Northern Winter Festival: January 29 - 31, 2027.

Address

704 2nd St S
Minneapolis, MN
55401

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Great Northern posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The University

Send a message to The Great Northern:

Shortcuts

Share