Duluth's Cold Front Festival Celebrates the Northland Spirit

Annual winter festival offers a range of outdoor activities for all ages to embrace the cold weather.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Cold Front Duluth festival at Bayfront Festival Park provides a variety of winter activities for families, including dog sledding, hayrides, and cross-country skiing. The event, which has been running for nearly a decade, aims to capture the spirit of the Northland region by encouraging people to get outside and enjoy the cold weather, even if the temperatures may seem daunting to some.

Why it matters

The Cold Front Duluth festival is an important community event that celebrates the resilience and outdoor-loving culture of the Northland region. In a time when many people may be tempted to stay indoors during the winter, this festival encourages residents and visitors alike to embrace the cold and participate in traditional cold-weather activities.

The details

The festival features a range of outdoor activities, from dog sledding and ice skating to cross-country skiing and hayrides. Organizers work closely with the community to continuously evolve the event, adding new attractions and engaging local groups and organizations. The festival's goal is to bring people together to enjoy the Northland's natural beauty and winter wonderland.

  • Cold Front Duluth has been an annual event for nearly a decade.
  • The 2026 edition of the festival is taking place on February 12, 2026.

The players

Megan Lidd

A recreation specialist for the city of Duluth who helps organize the Cold Front Duluth festival.

Joshua Forsman

A first-time attendee of the Cold Front Duluth festival from the nearby city of Ely, Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“It's so fun to see everyone interacting with each other, enjoying the luge, enjoying the ice skating, everything that we have to offer and just having a good time in our parks.”

— Megan Lidd, Recreation Specialist, City of Duluth (wdio.com)

“As long as you are outside enjoying this weather, it doesn't matter where you are, whether Duluth or Ely, you know, just the beauty of being able to enjoy Minnesota and all that we have to offer.”

— Joshua Forsman (wdio.com)

What’s next

The Cold Front Duluth festival will continue to evolve and adapt in the coming years, with organizers always looking for new ways to engage the community and showcase the unique spirit of the Northland region.

The takeaway

The Cold Front Duluth festival is a testament to the resilience and outdoor-loving culture of the Northland, where residents embrace the cold weather and come together to celebrate the region's natural beauty and winter traditions.