![[Lake scene drawing]](http://images.midwestweekend.com/graphics/lake_scene.gif)
In addition to kite-flying, there will be ice sculptures and free hot chocolate, coffee and snacks in the lakefront Veterans Park.
Gathering of antique sleighs and drivers in 19th-century costumes at Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center.
At Fort Snelling State Park in the Twin Cities, there will be guided hikes, geocaching, snowshoeing demos, animal-tracking and fort-building.
In the "Ice Box of the Nation'' on the Canadian border, there will be turkey bowling, snow sculptures, a night snowshoe hike in Voyageurs National Park and the famous Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run.
Many eagles spend the winter near this town on the Wisconsin River, which offers guided bus tours, eagle and raptor programs and a radio-tracking demonstration.
This town along the Wisconsin River, next to a hydroelectric plant, offers guided bus tours, birds of prey programs and a radio-tracking demonstration.
There's broomball, golf on ice, a polar plunge and a build-your-own-sled derby.
Frozen Medicine Lake in this western Minneapolis suburb hosts two dozen artist-designed ice houses. The ArtCar Taxi Shanty takes you there.
Carvers create glittering ice sculptures in Rice Park, and there are two parades: the Grande Day on Jan. 24 and the Torchlight on Jan. 31.
Watch snow-sculptors compete, take pony rides, shop for arts and crafts, go to a party and see fireworks at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Go on a wine walk or scavenger hunt or compete in ham-throwing, log-sawing, the Amana Freezer Run/Walk, snowshoeing or for the best beard. There will be ice sculptures, storytelling and schnitzel-sampling, too.
There's a candlelight ski from Cascade Lodge, free snowshoe use and guided hikes, sleigh rides, dog-sled rides, music, bonfires and s'mores.
The 1993 movie "Groundhog Day'' was filmed in this town an hour northwest of Chicago, and it celebrates with storytelling, a bachelor auction and tours of movie sites, including the 1889 Opera House, where Bill Murray jumped from the belfry. At 7:07 a.m. Tuesday, Woodstock Willie will look for his shadow. Jan. 28-Feb. 2.
This is where the international jumpers go; it's a stop on the Continental Cup circuit.
There'll be an international snow-sculpting tournament, sled-dog demonstrations and a snowboard rail jam.
This resort area in northwest Iowa will offer broomball, softball and flag football on ice, indoor golf, a Freeze Yer Fanny Bike Ride, a wienie toss, a chili cookoff and fireworks at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
This Chisago Lakes festival on North Center Lake includes hot-air balloon launches, dog sleds, helicopter and horse-drawn sleigh rides, a chili cookoff, a medallion hunt, a kiddie parade at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and a snowmobile torchlight parade at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
Ride down a decorated hill at Powderhorn Park in your own wacky sled, which you can make at home or at a free workshop at Powderhorn Park Community Center. There's also live music and hot chocolate.
Watch artists shape snow into whimsical shapes or go on a helicopter ride.
The Surf Ballroom marks the 51st anniversary of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly with concerts, luncheons, dance lessons and crash-site tours.
At the top of a hill that's the equivalent of a 41-story skyscraper, watch jumpers fly by at 55 mph. It no longer attracts many international skiers, but it's still fun to watch because the jump is built onto the side of a coulee, and spectators can climb it and watch from the top. For more, see A jumpin' joint.
Hot Air Affair in Hudson, Wis. There will be winter sports Olympics, a craft fair, chili cookoff, Friday night parade and fireworks plus morning balloon launches and evening moon glows. Feb. 5-7.
This darling town east of Madison holds a fish toss, Sno Ball-eating contest, dad-sled race, chili cook-off and Iceberg Open golf tournament. There's ice carving, too.
This North Shore town celebrates winter on Lake Superior with free sleigh rides, sled-dog rides, snow sculptures, free s'mores, outhouse and smoosh races and a parade at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
In Bayfront Festival Park, there'll be snowshoeing, free hot chocolate and cookies, marshmallow-roasting, hay rides, ice skating and a bonfire from 2 to 5 p.m.
Norway Mountain Ski Area, near Iron Mountain across the Wisconsin border, holds Yooper Games of Winter, including pasty eating, chainsaw throwing and a frozen t-shirt contest. Yooper attire (blaze orange, flannel or long underwear worn on the outside) encouraged.
See Capitol Square turn into a sports venue, with cross-country skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing plus music, family games and ice and snow sculptures.
It's fun just to wander (or drive) around Leech Lake during this goofy event. Be sure to have some 'pout nuggets, which are as tasty as the fish is ugly. For more, see Home of the eelpout.
Restaurant Week in Chicago. Time to pack on the calories: More than 160 restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe menus for $22 at lunch and $32 at dinner. Feb. 19-28.
There's a lot to see: a fur-trade encampment, powwow, dog weight pull, lumberjack show and chainsaw-carving contest, plus snowshoe races and sleigh rides.
There's always lots of snow here for skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, snowmobiling, skijoring and mushing. For the indoors-inclined, there's knitting by the fire.
Birding experts give programs and lead field trips. At the Wisconsin Travel Information Center, just off the bridge into town, volunteers man spotting scopes.
This southeast Minnesota town offers owl prowls, hooting contests, pellet dissection, live-owl programs and children's activities. For more, see Owl aboard.
This is a trade show devoted to Great Lakes maritime history and scuba diving. The exhibit hall is free and open to the public.
There will be live-eagle programs, an environmental fair and spotting scopes for viewing eagles at the dam on Lake Red Rock, Iowa's largest.
Dancers, musicians, storytellers and puppeteers representing traditions from around the world converge on the Overture Center for the Arts on State Street for this free festival. There's also food and a global bazaar.
The public can sample cheeses from all over the world and watch judges at work at this free event in Monona Terrace.
