Winter Fete: One coooool week in January!

Minnesota Hockey Day Kennedy Mites versus Jefferson Mites
at Running Park

9501 12th Ave. South, Bloomington
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Watch Kennedy and Jefferson Mites players battle it out throughout the day during a six-game exhibition as part of Minnesota Hockey Day.

For more information, contact Erling Ringquist at 952-836-8517 or email Erling.Ringquist@genmills.com

Family Chill Out and Ice Fishing for Beginners
at Bush Lake Beach

140 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Come and bring your family for an afternoon of frosty fun. Learn to ice fish with experts from the Minnesota DNR in a heated ice house. All fishing equipment will be provided for this great introduction to one of Minnesota's most popular wintertime activities! Then Chill Out with Parks and Recreation staff and participate in fun winter activities on the beach including a Scavenger Hunt, Winter Bingo, Music, Snow Painting, and more. Hot cocoa, cider and cookies will be served while supplies last.

This is a FREE event! Please bring a nonperishable, non-breakable food item to be donated to a local food shelf.

For more information, call Parks and Recreation at 952-563-8877.

Sponsored and organized by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Winter Fete Photo Scavenger Hunt
at Bloomington City Council Chambers

1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington
1:30 p.m.

Celebrate winter with a different kind of scavenger hunt! Bring your digital camera and your sense of winter adventure. Photographer Jessica Lee will present pointers and ideas for taking good photos as the City of Bloomington kicks off its Winter Fete, then turn you loose to take "find" photo opportunities in and around the Bloomington Center for the Arts in five categories: 1) shadow and light, 2) space and corridors, 3) people, 4) nature/close-up, and 5) nature/long-view.

Each participant will be given an e-mail address. Submit your best photo in each category by e-mail before 7 p.m. Judging will take place and winners announced Monday, January 23.

The Grand Prize photo wins a BTAC gift certificate good toward a class or workshop (valued up to $100); Second Prize wins two tickets to a BCT main stage performance; Third Prize wins two tickets to a BCT Black Box Performance. Additionally, one photo in each category will receive a certificate for Best of Category.

FREE and open to the public.

For more information, call BTAC at 952-563-8569.

Sponsored by the Bloomington Theater and Art Center.

Dark Room Open House
at the Bloomington Center for the Arts

1800 West Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington
2:30 - 4:40 p.m.

During the opening reception of the Atrium Gallery's black and white photography exhibition, I Remember The 1950s, BTAC will be presenting a free opportunity for you to get to know the darkroom! Watch prints develop before your very eyes! FREE and open to the public.

For more information, call BTAC at 952-563-8569.

Sponsored by the Bloomington Theater and Art Center.

Minnesota Hockey Day Girls Hockey Program
at Westwood Park

3490 West 109th Street, Bloomington
1 - 4 p.m.

All Bloomington and Richfield girls are invited to come out and try hockey and enjoy treats on MN Hockey Day Jan 21. We will have hockey sticks available and parents to help answer questions about our program.

For more information, call 651-431-4596.

Reduced rate open skating
at Bloomington Ice Garden

3600 West 98th Street, Bloomington
2 - 3:30 p.m.

The Ice Garden will offer 50% off public skating on Sunday, January 22, 2012, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The reduced rate is:

• Adults $2.
• Children $1.50.
• Skate rental $1.

For more information, call the Ice Garden Info Hotline at 952-563-8842.

International Nordic Ski Jumping Competition
at Bush Lake Ski Jump

8401 East Bush Lake Road, Bloomington
6 - 10 p.m.

International Nordic Ski Jumping hits the Twin Cities scene on the evening of Wednesday, January 25, under the stadium lights at the Bush Lake Ski Jumps in Bloomington.

Elite athletes from NORWAY, FINLAND, POLAND and all across USA will be taking to the skies in Head To Head competition. Many former and future Olympians will be there perfecting their form in the 2nd leg of the Midwestern 4 Hills Tour. Skiers will be soaring up to 300 feet for trophies and cash prizes.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the tournament begins at 7 p.m. Walk-in admission is $5 for anyone over 12 years of age. Limited on-site parking is available first-come, first-serve with a flat rate of $20 per vehicle. Come enjoy our brand new chalet to watch all the high-flying action indoors!

For more information, call Chris Broz at 952-484-8956 or visit www.minneapolisskiclub.com.

Sponsored by the Minneapolis Ski Club and the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Bloomington.

Kennedy Mites Hockey Exhibition
at Running Park

9501 12th Avenue South, Bloomington
6 - 8 p.m.

Watch the Kennedy Mites hockey team take on the Kennedy boys varsity squad in this yearly contest of skill and fun. Exhibition games start at 6 p.m.

For more information, call 612-916-6662.

Sponsored by the Kennedy Youth Hockey Association.

Bloomington Girls Hockey Exhibition
at Westwood Park

3490 W 109th Street, Bloomington
6 - 8 p.m.

See Kennedy and Jefferson girls varsity players take on the Girl Mites in crazy and fun exhibition games. Exhibition games start at 6 p.m. Treats will be provided.

For more information, call 651-431-4596.

Sponsored by Bloomington Girl Mites Hockey.

Broomball Tournament
at Tretbaugh Park

3701 West 90th Street, Bloomington
8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Register your team for this popular and exciting winter sport at Tretbaugh Park. This tournament is open to Men's and Co-Rec divisions. This is an MSF-sanctioned event and USA Broomball rules apply. USA Broomball certified referees will be used.

Visit www.BloomingtonBroomball.com for registration form and details.

Sponsored by USA Broomball.

Ice Harvest Festival
at Richardson Nature Center

8737 East Bush lake Road, Bloomington
11a.m. - 3 p.m.

Drop in anytime and discover Minnesota's history before electric refrigerators, when hardy ice harvesters sawed massive blocks of ice out of frozen lakes and ponds to keep food chilled during warmer months. Meet ice harvesting historian Tim Graf and costumed interpreters from The Landing - Minnesota River Heritage Park. Cut blocks of ice out of the pond with an old-fashioned ice saw, pull an antique ice plow, weigh blocks of ice, and try out other historical ice-harvesting tools that can still be used today. Learn about water quality and ice safety. Keep warm outdoors by a campfire and indoors with hot cocoa.

This is a great event for families, grandparents, and people interested in Minnesota's ice harvesting history.

The cost is $5 per person, ages 3 and older.

For more information, call Richardson Nature Center at 763-694-7676.

Sponsored by Three Rivers Park District.

Ski Jumping for Beginners
at Hyland Ski jump

East Bush Lake and Chalet Roads, Bloomington
10 a.m .- 2 p.m.

Come out to the Hyland Ski jump and try your hand at ski jumping! Try-it sessions are a fun experience for you to come out and try ski jumping on our bump jump at the Bush Lake ski jumps in Bloomington.

Arrive at 10 a.m. and get lessons from our professional coaching staff all morning, a quick break for lunch then a bit more ski jumping until 2 p.m. You can bring equipment you're already accustomed to and/or try our ski jumping skis!

The cost for equipment use and instruction is $25.

For more information, visit the Minneapolis Ski Club website.

Sponsored by the Minneapolis Ski Club.

Pond Dakota Winter History Festival
at Pond Dakota Mission Park

401 East 104th Street, Bloomington
Noon - 4 p.m.

Horse-drawn-wagon rides will be given continuously from noon to 4 p.m. Please note, as a result of insufficient snow this year, we will be featuring horse-drawn-wagon rides rather than dog-sled rides.

After your ride, stop off at the historic Gideon Pond House to warm up around the fireplace with some hot cocoa or cider. Gideon Pond himself will bring to life rich stories of early settlers of Bloomington. Play traditional Native American and pioneer outdoor games including the ever popular snow snakes game!

Experience one of the authentic 1800s-style magic shows scheduled throughout the day and prepare to be amazed!

The entrance fee is $3 per person (under 4, free). Dogsled rides are an additional $2 per person (all ages). Free hot cider, cocoa and other treats will be available throughout the day.

Limited parking is available in the Pond Dakota Mission Park parking lot. Please do not park along the driveway. Additional free parking is available at Emmanuel Lutheran Church or in the Kelly Playfield lot.

Organized and sponsored by Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Pond Dakota Heritage Society.