• Icebox Days - Winter Festival, International Falls, MN

  • January 26-29, 2023

  • Icebox Days - International Falls, MN

    Welcome to the wacky winter festival known as Icebox Days – an annual celebration staged in what the world knows as the “Icebox of the Nation.” That trademarked moniker, given to us by Collier’s magazine decades ago, harbors plenty of implications but one thing is for sure - it keeps the media inquiring and has put us on the global map.

    Events through the years have been covered by CBS, NBC and ABC networks and others. Icebox Days has also been featured on The Travel Channel, The Weather Channel, MSNBC, Lifetime and dozens of national and international publications. A few years ago, Emmy Award-winning television journalist JuJu Chang visited with her son and producer, resulting in an International Falls feature on the ABC program “Nightline.”

    Yet there’s still a lot more you need to know about us. Our people live here because they love the area and are inhabited with an affection for nature illustrated in joyous winter activity and winter resiliency.

    Sure – we celebrate winter with our wacky and wonderful winter festival. But here’s another thing: International Falls is beautiful in four distinct seasons – breathtakingly pristine winters melt into heavenly summers, and glorious autumns. In the meantime, Icebox Days is packed full of fun and zany games for all people, including frozen turkey bowling; the locally invented “smoosh” races; moonlight skiing in Voyageurs National Park; the infamous “Gizzard” runs and much more (as you will see in this schedule).

    Icebox Days is coordinated by the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce with the support of generous sponsors and dozens of volunteers. You are warmly welcomed to the Icebox of the Nation for the 43rd amazing year of Icebox Days and Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run.

  • Thank you to our Icebox Days sponsors!

    Email the Chamber for Sponsorship Opportunities

    Star Partners

    Platinum Partner
    Packaging Corporation of America

    Gold Partners
    Cobblestone Hotel & Suites
    TruStar Federal Credit Union
    Borderland Insurance
    KGHS/KSDM
    93.1 The Border
    AmericInn by Wyndham
    Coca~Cola Bottling Co.
    Friend's Garbage

    Silver Partners
    Rainy Lake Medical Center
    Midco
    Citizens for Backus
    Wagner Construction
    MN Energy Resources
    Camp Idlewood
    Eckman Chevrolet
    Miner's Super One
    Holiday Gas Station
    Border Bank

    Bronze Partners
    Farmer's Insurance
    MN Industries
    MD & W Railway
    City Drug
    Sammy's Pizza and Tavern
    Chocolate Moose
    Union Hall Lodge W33
    Dressy Moose Emporium
    Top That by Loni
    Coffee Landing
    Hasbargen Customs
    MN North College - Rainy River
    Up North Builders

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  • America's Coldest Town Lives for 'Icebox Days'
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  • 2023 Icebox Days Schedule of Events 

    Latest Icebox Days Info Available HERE!

    Thursday, January 26, 2023

    3:00-5:00 PM- Cribbage Tournament at the Elk’s Lodge. Contact Shawn Mason 218-341-6809.

    7:00 PM- Icebox Days Bingo at VFW. Doors open at 5:30 for dinner and bingo cards. Supporting Rainy Lake Medical Center Foundation.

    Friday, January 27, 2023

    5:00 – 7:30 PM- Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard run Headquarters for registration opens at Backus Community Center.

    5:00- 8:00 PM-  Icebox Burgers at the VFW.

    6:00-7:30 PM- Moonlight Snowshoe Hike in Voyageurs National Park, Rainy Lake Visitor Center. Contact the center at 218-286-5258.

    8:00 PM- DJ at On The Rocks.

    8:00 PM - Karaoke at Loony's Brew, Ranier

    9:00 PM- Karaoke at the VFW.

    Saturday, January 28, 2023

    8:00 AM – 10:30 AM- Pancake breakfast at Backus Community Center. Supporting the International Falls Education Foundation. 

    8:00 – 9:30 AM- Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run registration and packet pick-up at Backus Community Center.

    9:00 AM- 5K Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run starting line Backus Community Center.

    10:00 AM- 10K Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run starting line Backus Community Center.

    10:00 AM- Icebox Boot Hockey Tournament at the Ranier Rink. Sponsored by Ranier Municipal Liquor Store. Contact Jess Seegert at Ranier Muni at 218-286-3343.

    11:00 AM - Corn Hole Tournament  - On The Rocks

    11:30 AM (approx)- Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run Awards Ceremony for 5K and 10K races at Backus Community Center.

    12:00 PM – 3:00PM- Icebox Kids Days at Bob Walls Memorial Union Hall. Inside: contests, games and hot chocolate bar with homemade marshmallow. 

    12:30 – 3:00 PM PM- Kids Smoosh Races and Frozen Turkey bowling outside Bob Walls Memorial Union Hall parking lot to the west. 

    1:00 PM- Toilet Seat toss outside On The Rocks Bar. 

    2:00 PM- Adult Smoosh Races outside On The Rocks Bar. 

    4:00 PM- Dart Tournament at Border Bar. Contact the bar at 218-283-9919.

    6:00 PM- Fireworks in Smokey Bear Park.

    8:00 PM- DJ at Ranier Municipal Liquor Store.

    8:00 PM- Music at Border Bar

    9:00 PM - Cosmic Loony's at Loony's Brew, Ranier