Bold & Cold Winter Festival

Bold & Cold Winter Festival- January 2026

When the air gets cold, Owatonna’s activities heat things up. Owatonna’s 8th Annual Bold & Cold Festival is a perfect way to enjoy a Minnesota winter!

Throughout the entire month of January, Owatonna will WOW you with Bold & Cold activities that will keep you moving.

Plan your winter to coincide with our special BOLD & COLD events and activities January 19-25 in partnership with Owatonna Park and Recreation, Owatonna People’s Press, Owatonna Business Partnership, and Owatonna Main Street. Owatonna Park & Recreation is back again with their fun winter activities! You don’t want to miss these fan favorites, such as Family Swim, and Rock, Ice, Sculpture Building Contest, Snowshoeing, Ice Fishing and Luminary Hike.

Stay Awhile

Whether you’re taking a family trip, getting away for the weekend without the kids, or planning a trip with friends, you have a place to stay at one of our clean, comfortable and affordable hotels in Owatonna. End your evening warm and cozy after a full day of Bold & Cold. Find a place to stay here!

Official Bold & Cold Mittens

Make sure you dress warmly for Owatonna’s Bold & Cold Festival! One sure way to keep your hands warm is with official Bold & Cold Mittens, produced by an Owatonna business, Century Leather Products. A limited supply is available for purchase, now at the Owatonna Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, 120 South Oak Ave, during regular business hours, 8am-5pm, Mon-Fr.

Snow Sculpture Building Contest

January 21-25, Central Park

January 6: Team Registration Deadline (call 507-444-4321 or register online)

January 21-24: Team Sculpting

January 25: Vote for your favorite Sculpture online- watch facebook for details.

Unleash your inner artist by transforming an 8x8x8 block of snow into a breathtaking sculpture. This is your moment to let your creativity shine and share your vision with the community. You’ll have four days to shape your snowy masterpiece, and on Sunday, the public will cast their votes for their top picks. Don’t miss the chance to turn your imagination into something unforgettable. Rules, details, and registration.

Starting January 25th, the sculptures’ grading will be posted on Facebook or via signage in Central Park.

Best Overall Design/Sculpture- Rewards excellence across creativity, technique, visual impact, ambition, and theme execution. The sculpture wows from top to bottom.
This is our town- The sculpture captures the Owatonna community and our values.
Most Playful- Goes to the sculpture that impresses with its color, surprise, delight, and fun through whimsical interactions.

A Winter Walk with Beverages, Bites, and Brrr-ingo

January 23-24

Main Street is hosting A Winter Walk, with Beverages, Bites, and Brrr-ingo. The premise is simple – On Friday, January 23rd, participants will walk from establishment to establishment to eat, drink, or do both. All participating downtown businesses will have brrr-ingo cards for people to pick up. Once you have visited an establishment, have the staff mark off the name of that business on the card. Then take your brrr-ingo card to the next place. When you get a brrr-ingo, you can be finished. OR….if you would like to visit more establishments, you can keep going – the more brrr-ingos, the better chance to win a prize. Then leave your card at the last business you visit. Winners will be drawn on Saturday. And we have some great prizes! Hope to see ya downtown!

Pool Bingo

Friday, January 23, 6:30-8:30pm

Owatonna Middle School

$5.00 per person

Pool Bingo is a fun family event where you search the pool for your bingo numbers that match your card. Once all your numbers are collected, turn in your bingo cards and numbers for a prize! Dive into excitement with our Pool Bingo extravaganza! Join us for a unique twist on the classic game, where the pool becomes your game board and swimming skills are your tickets to winning prizes.

How it works:
Participants will receive a Bingo card.
As the game begins, bingo balls will be scattered throughout the pool.
Swimmers will navigate the water to collect bingo balls that match the numbers on their cards.
Get ready for a refreshing challenge as you swim and strategize to complete your bingo pattern!

Luminary Hike

Saturday, January 24, 6-9pm

Brooktree Golf Course

Free to participants

Take a peaceful nighttime walk through Brooktree Golf Course, lit by the soft glow of hundreds of luminaries. Follow winding trails through snow-covered trees, alongside frozen streams, and beneath a blanket of stars. Along the route, enjoy a storybook experience, warm seasonal refreshments, and chances to connect with the serene winter landscape.

Ice Fishing

Sunday, January 25, 1:30pm-3:30pm

Lake Kohlmier Boat Launch

Free for participants

Are you ready to take the bait and go ice fishing at Lake Kohlmier? Our program will have you hooked from the moment you drop your line! We’ll supply all the gear you need to reel in the catch of the day. Don’t worry about a fishing license – we’ve got you covered. This fin-tastic activity is perfect for all ages. So don’t be koi, come join us and let’s make some memories that are really unforgettable!

Open Outdoor Ice Skating

Morehouse Park Ice Skating Rinks

350 School Street

Skating Hours:

Monday-Sunday: 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Warming House Hours (Supervised)
Monday-Friday: 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Saturdays, Holidays, School Vacation Days: 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Cross Country Skiing

The Owatonna Parks and Recreation Department maintains and grooms cross country ski trails in the following areas from mid-December to mid-February (depending on weather and snow conditions). Over 11 miles of cross country skiing trails can be found from Kaplan’s Woods Parkway starting from Morehouse Park through Kaplan’s Woods and into the County Club Golf Course (in excess of 8 miles) and Brooktree Golf Course (2 miles).

Ride Into a Winter Wonderland

If your family is looking for a little more adventure and speed, consider snowmobiling.

Rice Lake State Park and Steele County Trail System are popular locations for snowmobiling. Steele County Trail System is a 175-mile route of groomed snowmobile trails that connects five adjoining counties. Gain a new perspective and appreciation for the beauty of Minnesota’s winter wonderland on the seat of a snowmobile. Check out this map to see active trails in Steele County.

Bold & Cold Winter Festival