While a new semester is exciting, some of us may already be feeling the stress of new classes and adjusting to a different schedule. As you shake off the winter break cobwebs and get back to the grind, it’s important to do things for yourself outside of work and school.
Luckily, there’s plenty of fun things to explore during these last few weeks of January, like concerts, the Winter Carnival, an ice palace maze and more.
1. The Current’s 17th Anniversary Party: The Current is a staple of local radio, and they’re celebrating 17 years of music with a concert at First Avenue on Jan. 22. The evening will feature a great lineup of musicians, including Low Cut Connie and Jade Bird, as well as local artists Kiss the Tiger and Miloe. Tickets are $24
2. Twin Cities Vintage Fest: Whether you’re into ‘90s t-shirts or ‘80s memorabilia, Twin Cities Vintage Fest is the place to be. It’s Minnesota’s largest vintage shopping event, and the next one is just around the corner on Jan. 29. The Minneapolis Convention Center will be filled with photo-ops, a vintage arcade, over 100 vendors and plenty of nostalgia to go around. Tickets for the event can be purchased online. Tickets range from $5-20
3. Stillwater’s Ice Palace Maze: If you’re looking for some outdoor fun, the Ice Palace Maze in Stillwater is open now through Feb. 20. This ice maze is the largest in the country, made up of over 800,000 pounds of ice. Visitors can enjoy hot chocolate, s’mores and even cocktails from their ice bar. The maze is open seven days a week, and tickets can be purchased online. Tickets are $20 for adults
4. St. Paul Winter Carnival: The Winter Carnival in St. Paul is back for its 136th celebration. This year’s carnival will run Jan. 28 through Feb. 6 in Rice Park and at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. It will offer ice carvings, scavenger hunts, live music, a snow maze and more. A full calendar of events can be found on the carnival’s website. Free
5. “Come From Away” at the Orpheum: The award-winning Broadway musical recently opened at the Orpheum Theatre, and runs through Jan. 23. “Come From Away” tells the true story of 7,000 airplane passengers who were forced to land in a small Newfoundland town on Sep. 11, 2001, and the community that welcomed them in. Tickets start at $40
6. Classic Movie Screenings on Campus: Student Unions & Activities is offering free screenings of classic films during the last two weekends of January. “Jurassic Park” and “The Thing” will be shown in Coffman Memorial Union Theater and the St. Paul Student Center Theater. Showtimes for both movies can be found online. Free
7. Adam Melchor: The indie pop artist known for dreamy, lullaby-esque hits like “Real Estate” and “Moon in the Morning” will perform at The Whole Music Club on Jan. 22. This show is a great opportunity to catch Melchor before he hits the road with Chelsea Cutler for her tour this spring. Tickets for the concert are available on the Student Unions & Activities website. Student tickets are $5
8. “Dancing Our Way Out:” This film by University of Minnesota Dance Program students, faculty and guests was created in response to COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd. Northrop Auditorium is offering this program to audiences through streaming, and it’s available for on-demand purchase through Jan. 21. Tickets are sold on a “pick your price” basis from $0-50
9. Houndmouth: Following the release of their new album, “Good For You,” the alternative blues band is hitting the road on tour. The group will perform at the Fine Line on Jan. 25, alongside Milwaukee-based musician Buffalo Nichols. Tickets start at $30
10. Dance Theatre of Harlem: The 18-member dance company will perform three pieces that celebrate African American culture through the art of ballet. The show will take place at Northrop Auditorium on Jan 28, and tickets are available online. Tickets start at $30
