Each winter, candlelight events at Minnesota state parks, recreation areas and trails encourage people to get outdoors and warm up to winter.
The events feature trails lit up at night with candles, lanterns and other luminaries. Depending on the location of the event and the amount of snow cover, visitors can hike, snowshoe or cross-country ski along the lighted trails.
“Winter candlelight events are a magical way to experience Minnesota’s state parks, recreation areas and trails,” said Ann Pierce, director of Parks and Trails Division at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “There’s something truly special about walking a snowy trail under the glow of candlelight, where the quiet of the night and the sparkle of the snow create a peaceful escape.
“It’s a chance to slow down, connect with nature, spend time with friends and family and find beauty in the stillness of winter.”
This winter, 19 candlelight events at 17 different locations are planned between Friday, Jan. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 22. The schedule — including dates, times and other details — is available at the candlelight events webpage ( https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/candlelight_events.html ).