On February 15, 2025 from 5-8pm the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge will be hosting our annual Candlelight Trail & Community Night at the Bloomington Education and Visitor Center (3815 American Boulevard East, Bloomington, MN 55425) . Enjoy the warmth of community on a winter evening and get cozy in the Visitor Center as we celebrate the season! Activities for all ages include: Winter Storytelling with Hope Flanagan, sharing stories of Indigenous culture & traditions, a screening of the 'Bold North' documentary, nature crafts, an interactive insect demonstration, and more!
We’re excited to be joined by Hennepin County Library, City of Bloomington Office of Sustainability, City of Bloomington Public Health “Start with Hi” campaign, Minnesota Seed leading Native seed processing and giveaways, Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends, and our friends from Bugs Below Zero, providing an interactive insect demonstration for adults, kids, students, and families that connects weather, streams, aquatic insects, and fish.
As we celebrate the season in community, one tradition that highlights nature, light, and winter is the use of ice luminaries. These glowing creations, which have been around for centuries, not only bring warmth and beauty to the dark winter nights but also have deep cultural significance in many cold-weather countries. Not only were they used to create art & joy, but they were rooted as functional tools. For instance, the boat lantern was placed on deck to illuminate fishing boats. Ice luminaries were commonly placed on streets as the ice would protect the flame from being blown out by the wind.
Today, ice luminaries are a big part of winter celebrations and traditions. Their decorations come in many shapes, sizes, and colors! Take a walk by our candle lit ice luminaries during our community night & enjoy free snacks and cocoa courtesy of the Minnesota Valley Refuge Friends!