WISCONSIN — Winter may mean cold air and snow-covered ground, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get outside.
There are plenty of outdoor events and activities taking place in Wisconsin this winter season.
Here are just a few of them.
Ice skating
Now that the ground is frozen, many places are offering ice skating, with skates available for rental at respective locations.
Green Bay
Ice skating is available in Hy-Vee Plaza throughout the winter. Passes and skate rentals are available at the Admissions building, which is adjacent to the side of Ariens Hill. Whether you bring your own skates or rent them, you must pay the Admission fee, which is $8 daily, $3 on community nights and $15 on gameday. Packages are also available.
You can find more information on that here.
Milwaukee
Enjoy the sights of downtown on a pair of skates at Slice of Ice in Red Arrow Park. It’s $10 to rent skates for those 18 or older, $8 for those 17 and under and $6 for sharpening. In January and February, you can visit the rink Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. However, rentals sometimes begin later than the rink opens. Check hours and find more info here.
Madison
The Edgewater Ice Rink in Madison comes complete with surrounding firepits and a pizza restaurant. Keep an eye on the website for special skate nights. It’s open Wednesday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Skate rentals are $3 each. It is recommended you buy tickets for a 60-minute time slot before going.
Tubing
Green Bay area
In addition to ice skating, Titletown also hosts tubing on Ariens Hill. It’s $8 for daily unlimited tubing, $4 for a single ride, $3 on community nights and $10 on gameday (single ride only).
Milwaukee area
The Rock Snowpark in Franklin offers tubing weeknights and weekends. During the week, tickets start at $20, while on the weekends, it starts at $25 for a two-hour experience. Glow tubing is one of the more unique features of this hill. When the lights turn off on select Saturdays in January, the hill is lit up with colored lights with music. That starts at $35.
While Sunburst Ski Area is a little outside of Milwaukee, it’s got over 40 chutes, a 90-foot-drop and speeds up to 30mph. It’s open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday. It’s $20 all day on Tuesday through Thursday and $25 for two hours on the weekends. Find more info here.
Madison area
Cascade Mountain in Portage is one of the bigger, closer ski hills in the area for tubing. With a snowy, 900-feet long shoot, it’s sure to be an exciting, thrilling ride. However, to ride this hill to the bottom, you must pre-pay for a specific time slot. On non-peak days, it’s $35 for those 7 and up and $19 for those 6 and under. On peak days, it’s $40 for those 7 and up and $23 for those 6 and under. For a full list of hours, visit their website.
Most of these places also offer snowboarding, skiing and other fun winter activities.
Candlelit hikes
From Jan. 7, 2023 to Feb 25, 2023, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is hosting several candlelit events in parks across the Badger state.
“Candlelight activities are a great way to see the parks in a different light. This year, we encourage you to invite someone to come out to a candlelight event in 2023 if they’ve never been before or if neither of you has been before,” said Steve Schmelzer, Parks and Recreation Management director.
These hikes are free-to-low cost for attendees and begin around sunset. Most will require a 2023 Wisconsin state park admission fee or state trail pass to get to the event.
Whether you’re walking, snowshoeing or cross-country skiing, there are a variety of ways to enjoy the candlelit events. Many of the events will also include bonfires, hot chocolate, cider and other refreshments.
Here’s the full list of events:
Jan. 7
Rib Mountain State Park Candlelight Snowshoe Hike
Jan. 14
Devil’s Lake State Park Candlelight Snowshoe
Jan. 15
Havenwoods State Forest Candlelight Hike
Jan. 21
- Point Beach State Forest Candlelight Ski
- Horicon Marsh Candlelight Hike
Jan. 27
Red Cedar State Trail Candlelight Ski, Hike and Snowshoe
Feb. 4
- Candlelight Night On The Stower-7 Lakes State Trail: XC Ski, Hike, Snowshoe, Fat Bike
- Rib Mountain State Park Candlelight Snowshoe Hike
- Brule River State Forest Candlelight Ski And Hike
- Black River State Forest Candlelight Ski/Hike/Snowshoe
Feb. 11
- Interstate Park Candlelight Night
- Pike Lake Candlelight Ski & Hike
Feb. 18
Potawatomi State Park Winter Trails Day
Feb. 25
Hank Aaron State Trail Candlelight Hike
You can visit the DNR’s Events Calendar for more information on each event.
