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2025 Detroit Lakes Polar Fest

2025 Detroit Lakes Polar Fest

Join us for the 29th Annual Detroit Lakes Polar Fest on February 7-23, 2025. Polar Fest is a 17-day winter festival that features a multitude of both indoor and outdoor winter activities. It is held in mid-February with the Polar Plunge and Frozen Fireworks on the last Saturday of Polar Fest.

Polar Fest was started by local residents who loved winter and wanted to a celebration of winter by the lake. They had heard of people jumping into a hole in the lake to raise money for an organization. Taking that idea to the Boys & Girls Club, “Polar Fest Plunge” and the annual much-loved event was born!

Most events are in Detroit Lakes and center around the lakes, with some at nearby Detroit Mountain Recreation area. Refer to the featured Polar Fest events below with links to event details. Following the featured events is a link for the full Polar Fest schedule. Photo Credit (above): Jack Davis Photography

Featured Polar Fest Events

  • 2/1/25 Way North of Nashville 3.0 (Polarfest Pre-Event): Feb 10 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm | The Historic Holmes Theatre. Polar Fest Way North of Nashville 4.0 at the Historic Holmes Theater on Saturday, February 1, 2025 is a Nashville “Listening Room” experience in Detroit Lakes!
    Details

  • 2/7-9/25 Vern Turner Memorial Bonspiel:Curling Tournament; 4 pm. Lakes Curling Club Details

  • 2/7/25: Mom & Son Bash: 6-9 pm; Historic Holmes Theatre.
  • 2/8/25 Freeze Your Buns Run: 12p-3p | Location (Starting & Ending): Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center, 826 Summit Avenue, Detroit Lakes, MN. Time: Registration 8 AM; Run begins at 9 AM. Details

  • 2/8/25 Poles N Holes Fishing Derby: 12p-3p | Little Detroit Lake, 720 West Lake Drive, Detroit Lakes, MN. Prizes will be awarded for the 30 largest fish, with prize packages valued at over $30,000 to be up for grabs. Details
  • 2/9/25 Cool Kites on the Lake: Starts at 10 AM – On Little Detroit Lake near West Lake Drive. Professional kite flyers will have their spectacular giant kites and set them in flight over Little Detroit Lake.
  • 2/15/25 DL Vintage Snowmobile Rally & Swap Meet: 8a-5p | Little Detroit Lake, 720 West Lake Drive, Detroit Lakes. Join us on the frozen lake for a vintage snowmobile rally &  swap meet! Details

  • 2/15/24 Fabulous Armadillos present “Hit the Road”: 7:30p–9:30p | The Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Ave, Detroit Lakes. Hit The Road (Songs About the Highway of Life) is a vast collection of songs written about avenues, boulevards, freeways, highways, roads, and streets. It is one of the MOST popular subjects for any artist to write about as they all spend a great deal of time on the road. Details

  • 2/15/24 Pinewood Derby: 1:30p–5:00p | Detail TBA

  • 2/16/25 Try Nordic Ski Day: Time: TBD
  • 2/20/25 ECFE Polar Fest Icy Adventures: 5:30p-6:45p | Details TBA
  • 2/21/25 ECFE Polar Fest Icy Adventures: 10:0a-11:15a | Details TBA

  • 2/21/25 Lazer Tubing: Time TBD | Details TBA
  • 2/22/25 Polar Plunge: 1p-3p | Detroit Lakes Pavillion. Get ready to freeze, have some fun, and make this year the BIGGEST and BEST Polar Fest Plunge to-date! The best thing is, your efforts directly support the Club’s mission and the hundreds of local youth who have a safe and fun place to grow academically, socially, and civically. Register at www.bgcdl.org as an individual or team. This event takes place on the lake in front of Lakeside Tavern. Details

  • 2/22/25 Polar Pete Market Place: 10:00a-2:00p | Details TBA
  • 2/22/25 Frozen Fireworks: 7p-7:10p | Detroit Lakes Pavillion. You can watch from the north side of Detroit Lake, by the Detroit Lakes Pavilion. There is parking in the park next to the pavilion. You might want to get here early to get a parking spot as this event can get very busy! Details

Video Credit: Boys & Girls Club of Detroit Lakes | Polar Fest Plunge Short Recap

About Detroit Lakes Polar Fest

Detroit Lakes Polar Fest is is a 17-day winter festival that features a multitude of outdoor winter activities. It is held in early and mid-February with the plunge and fireworks on the last Saturday night of Polar Fest. Polar Fest was started in 1996 by Erika Johnson, previous owner of Lakeside Tavern. She loved winter and wanted to see some sort of celebration of winter by the lake and outside her restaurant. Coincidentally, Ron Zeman, former Develop DL board member, heard of people jumping into a hole in the lake to raise money for an organization. He took that idea to the Boys & Girls Club and the “Polar Fest Plunge” was born. Unfortunately, in 2002 a lack of support left Polar Fest with only its key event, the Polar Plunge.

In 2005, a group of crazy, winter-loving citizens came together to reinvigorate and warm up Polar Fest. Since then, Polar Fest has since continued with the pinnacle event being the Polar Fest Plunge into Little Detroit Lake. However, many other activities including golfing on the lake, polar explorer presentations, dances and more have been added. In 2008, fireworks on the last Saturday evening were added, becoming one of the highlights of the week-long winter celebration. Don’t miss one of Minnesota’s most fun winter festivals!

Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next Polar Fest in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota in February!

Tags: Detroit Lakes Polar Fest, Detroit Lakes Ice Palace, Detroit Lakes Beer Tasting, Polar Fest Plunge, Vern Turner Memorial Bonspiel, Detroit Lakes Winter Activities

Best Polar Fest Hotels in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota

The Lodge on Lake Detroit & The Spa Within

The only way to improve Polar Fest is staying in one of the best Polar Fest Hotels in Detroit Lakes. However long your stay, you will find our Detroit Lakes Minnesota lake resort the perfect place to unwind after a busy day. What better way to relax than in The Lodge’s beautiful Fireside Lobby and LoLa D’s Lobby Bar & Bistro? Nestled in a lovely tree-filled setting on a private sandy beach, you’ll find the latest hotel style and amenities. The Lodge is independently owned and operated by Holland Hospitality, Inc., now providing a generation of hospitality excellence.

With our modern amenities and thoughtful design, we stand out among other lodging choices in Detroit Lakes, MN. For couples or family getaways, we offer a variety of rooms and suites with king, queen or two queen beds. Our free daily hot breakfast, free local calls, indoor heated pool and fitness center make the hotel a great place to recharge between enjoying Detroit Lakes attractions and activities. View Hotel Detail

Your room features lakefront views, free Wi-Fi and wired internet, flat-screen TVs with extended channels. It is also equipped with mini-fridge, microwave, and coffee maker, and is pet and smoke free. View accommodation detail.

Detroit Lakes Day Spa: You will experience extensive menu of select spa treatment services at The Spa Within at The Lodge, many of which are exclusive signature treatments. A variety of facials and massage therapies will provide you a deeply relaxed state as part of your spa experience. Some of these revitalizing treatments include the use of warm and cold basalt stones for face and body.

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