Twin Cities weekend: Luminary Loppet, hot air balloons, ice golf
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The Luminary Loppet at Lake of the Isles. Photo: Courtesy of Todd Bauer
Penguins, polar bears and 1,200 luminaries will surround Lake of the Isles Saturday night for the return of the Luminary Loppet.
What to expect: Visitors can walk a path around the lake lit by ice features, including the frozen luminaries, an ice pyramid and a glowing enchanted forest, then stop by the Luminary Party for live music and food.
- Times are staggered to avoid congestion, and visitors can get their entry pass in advance at several Uptown spots to avoid waiting in line.
📍 Details: 6-9pm Saturday. As of Thursday afternoon, tickets for the 8pm and 8:30pm wave were still available. $15 youth, $35 adult.
Heads up: An unaffiliated vigil and ceremony to unveil anti-ICE snow sculptures will be held at the north end of the lake at 6pm.
More things to do ...
💕 Show your love for art at the Institute of Hearts, Mia's annual Valentine's Day event that kicks off Saturday. Each guest will receive a red paper heart they can place by their favorite work in the museum; admission is always free.
- 💭 Audrey's thought bubble: If you haven't been to Mia in a while, this is the best time for a return. Seeing what others pick gives me a new appreciation for art I've previously overlooked.
🎈 Watch hot air balloons take flight at this weekend's Hudson Hot Air Affair. Launches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday mornings, with other activities like a torchlight parade, craft fair and cold plunge planned throughout the weekend. Free
- Note: The event has been cancelled several times in previous years due to weather. Keep an eye on the event's website and social media for updates.
⛳️ Putt tennis balls around Lake Minnetonka at Saturday's Wayzata Chilly Open, a series of nine-hole "golf" courses cut into the ice. This year's theme is "Live from Wayzata...It's the Chilly Open!" and SNL-related costumes are encouraged. $64.29+
🪩 "Divas of a certain age," head to St. Paul Saturday night for Amsterdam's Hot Flash Dance. Gen X and millennial women are welcome to rock out to tunes from "all the excellent decades they've been alive." Proceeds support the Immigration Rapid Response Fund. $18 advance, $25 at the door
🎨 Last call for the Art Shanty Projects! The village of interactive shacks on frozen Lake Harriet will close out its final weekend with community square dancing, folktales around the fire and a "b-icicle" race. Free