Icebox Days

What Is Icebox Days?

Icebox Days is International Falls’ signature winter festival, celebrating the city known as the “Icebox of the Nation.” Each year, the event brings together winter games, races, fireworks, family activities, and community traditions.

If you’re visiting the Rainy Lake area in January, Icebox Days is a fun way to experience winter like a local.

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.

Icebox Days Winter Events

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 snowshoe hike in Voyageurs National Park; the infamous “Gizzard” runs and much more (as you will see in this schedule).

In addition, many events are easy for families and first-time visitors to enjoy.

Icebox Days Fireworks and Community Events

Be sure to catch the exhilarating FIREWORKS under the winter sky at 6 p.m. Saturday near Smokey Bear Park.

Icebox Days is coordinated by the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. The City of International Falls, local sponsors, and volunteers also help make the event possible.

Together, they welcome visitors to the Icebox of the Nation for another year of Icebox Days (click here for more) and the Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard Run.

2026 Icebox Days Schedule of Event Friday, January 16th Choice Therapy-Free Screen Event from 1pm-3pm at 1610 Highway 11-71 History on Tap: Controversy of Conservation: Creating Voyageurs National Park. Presented by Koochiching County Historical Society at the Cantilever Distillery at 6:00 p.m. Prohibition Party @ Loony’s starting at 8pm Saturday, January 17 MN North College Pickleball Tournament 9am 10:30 am The International Falls Public Library – with winter stories. Ages 8 and under welcome to come with their caregiver and enjoy stories, rhymes and more. Dodgeball Tournament @ Loony’s. 12:00 final sign up, $10/ team with teams of 6 Board games at the library. Noon – 2 pm All ages are welcome to come and enjoy playing board games with friends and family and enjoy snacks and hot cocoa. 12p-2p Soup for Troops at the Elks. Enter in a soup and vote for your favorite soup at this heartwarming fundraiser serving our servicemen and women.  11am-2pm Sammy’s-$5 Mimosas and $2 off chips and salsa Loony’s- Second annual beer pong tournament 8pm start time, final signups at that time Sunday January 18th IceBox Days Brunch Buffet at the Thunderbird Lodge from 10-2 Bridge Tournament (bring a partner) First Lutheran Church Doors open at 1 Tournament starts at 1:30 Contact Will Awe: 218-349-7178 for more information Loony’s– Kids cookie decorating hosted by Cake & Crust Artisan Bakery from 1 to 4. Free will donation along with kids karaoke at that time as well. 11am-2pm Sammy’s-$5 Mimosas and $2 off chips and salsa Monday, January 19th AmericInn by Wyndham Beach Party Wednesday, January 21th Loony’s Icebox Trivia 7pm Thursday, January 22nd RLMC Foundation’s Icebox Bingo at VFW. Bingo sales start at 5pm, games start at 7pm.  Loony’s – Icebox Idol 7pm. Sign up from 6pm-7pm start time of 7:30pm Friday, January 23rd Loony’s–Ranier bakery fundraiser for Cake & Crust Artisan Bakery from 1pm – 5pm Choice Therapy-Free Screen Event from 1pm-3pm at 1610 Highway 11-71 Candlelight Snowshoe Hike Time: 5:30–7:30 PM Location: Rainy Lake Visitor Center Step into a winter wonderland as you snowshoe through the boreal forest along a path glowing with candlelit luminaries. Snowshoes will be available to borrow (final loans at 7:00 PM), and a cozy campfire will be waiting when you’re done hiking. Stop by anytime between 5:30 and 7:30 PM for a magical winter evening on the trail! Freeze Yer Gizzard Race Registration @ Backus Community Center 5-7:30pm Saturday, January 24 FEF Pancake Breakfast 8-11am @ Backus 8:00–9:30 AM – Pre-registration for Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 5K/10K Run @ Backus Community Center 9:00 AM – Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 5K Run Starts 10:00 AM – Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 10K Run Starts 11:00 AM – Signup for Dart Tourney @ Border Bar 11am-2pm  Sammy’s-$5 Mimosas and $2 off chips and salsa 11:30 AM – Freeze Yer Gizzard Race Awards @ Backus 12:00–1:30 PM – Turkey Bowling (Adults/Kids) @ Timber Pins 12:00–1:30 PM – Toilet Seat Toss (Adults/Kids) @ Timber Pins 1:00 PM – Finals: Dart Tourney @ Border Bar Sponsored by Hazelwood Corp. 1:30–3:00 PM – Smoosh Races (Adults/Kids) @ Timber Pins 6:00 PM – FIREWORKS @ Smokey Bear Park Loony’s-Karaoke 7pm 8Pm-1AM-Beach Party @ Border Bar Sunday, January 25th Int’l Falls Figure Skating Club’s Icebox Days Competition is Sunday, January 25th at 9:30 a.m. at Bronco Arena. 11am-2pm Sammy’s-$5 Mimosas and $2 off chips and salsa  Loony’s- Chili Contest 2pm start time with voting ending at 4pm. All are welcome to come eat The International Falls Figure Skating Club’s 40th Annual Skating Exhibition at 3:00 p.m at Bronco Arena.