A wacky winter festival
Icebox Days, a nod to our moniker, "Icebox of the Nation," is our annual celebration staged in the middle of winter.
Events through the years have been covered by networks including CBS, NBC and ABC as well as The Travel Channel, The Weather Channel, MSNBC, Lifetime and dozens of national and international publications. A few years ago, Emmy Award-winning television journalist JuJu Chang visited with her son and producer, resulting in a feature of International Falls on the ABC program “Nightline.”
Icebox Days is packed full of fun and zany games for all people, including frozen turkey bowling; the locally invented “smoosh” races; moonlight skiing in Voyageurs National Park; the infamous “Gizzard” runs and much more.
Coordinated by the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, IceBox Days wouldn't be possible without the support of generous sponsors and dozens of volunteers.
Grab a jacket and join us in the Ice Box!
2025 Icebox Days Schedule of Events
ALL WEEK/EVERY DAY/ANY HOUR EVENTS INCLUDE:
- Story Stroll - Around Downtown
- Share a story together with friends/family. Look in business windows starting at the Chamber building and head west down 3rd St on the south side to the radio station then cross over and head back to the chamber building on the north side of the street beginning with Orton's. Can you find each page of the story?
- Wee Little Libraries Scavenger Hunt - Around Town
- Stop by the library to pick up an entry form for a Wee Little Libraries scavenger hunt. Find the eight Wee Little Libraries around International Falls and note their location on the entry form. Return the form to the library for a $10 Chamber Dollars certificate. Wee Little Libraries were placed by the International Falls Rotary chapter in support of their program LORE (love of reading early) to get books in the hands of young children. Wee Little Libraries have books for children under the age of 5.
Friday, January 17, 2025
- 6:00-7:00 PM - History on Tap @ Loony's Brew in Ranier
- 6:00-7:30 PM - Moonlight Snowshoe Hike @ Voyageurs Natl Park
- 6:00 PM-Finals - Cornhole Tourney @ Ranier Hall in Ranier. Contact Jen to pre-register @ Ranier Muni 218-286-3343
- 7:00 PM - Icebox Radio Theater presents "The Hockey Bag" @ The Salty Jester
- 7:30 PM - Bargo @ On the Rocks in downtown I.Falls
- 8:00 PM - Open Mic @ Loony's Brew
Saturday, January 18, 2025
- 10:00 AM-Finals - Boot Hockey Tourney @ Ranier Rink. Contact Jen to pre-register @ Ranier Muni 218-286-3343
- 11:00 AM-Finals - PuzzleMania @ Cobblestone Hotel.
- 11:00 AM - Mimosa Bar @ Sammy's Pizza with appetizer and drink specials
- 12:00-3:00 PM - Soups for Troops fundraiser @ The Elks Lodge
- 1:00 PM - Finals - Kids Cornhole Tourney @ Ranier Hall. Two age divisions- 10-13 & 11-17; Teams of two; Need at least 6 per division to run event. Prizes awarded top two each division. Contact Kim by Jan 19th to register 218-324-3233
- 6:00-1:00 AM - DJ @ Ranier Muni
Sunday, January 19, 2025
- 11:00 AM - Mimosa Bar @ Sammy's Pizza with appetizer and drink specials
- 1:00 PM-Finals - Cribbage Tourney @ Ranier Muni
Monday, January 20, 2025
- 12:00-8:00 PM - Open Swimming @ AmericInn by Wyndham. $5 per person per session. Kids under 3 free with paid adult. 2 hour time slots. Call 218-290-3376 to reserve
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
- 6:00 PM - Bingo @ VFW in IFalls
Wednesday, January 24, 2025
- 6:00 PM - Line Dancing @ VFW
Thursday, January 23, 2025
- 10:30 AM - Storytime at Int'l Falls Public Library
- 6:00 PM - Rainy Lake Medical Center Bingo Fundraiser @ VFW
- 7:00 PM - American Icebox Idol @ Loony's Brew - Bring your singing chops and compete to be the first Idol of the Icebox! Limited to 15 contestants. Call Shannon at 218-283-9400 to register. Open registration at 6:00 the day of. No guarantee of space however. Grand Prize is 1/2 day fishing trip with the one and only Woody!
Friday, January 24, 2025
- 5:00-7:30 PM - Freeze Yer Gizzard Race Registration @ Backus Community Center
- 7:00 PM - Bargo @ On The Rocks
- 9:00 PM - DJ @ On The Rocks
Saturday, January 25, 2025
- 8:00-11:30 AM - Pancake Feed by Falls Education Foundation @ Backus Community Center FREE WILL OFFERING
- 8:00-9:30 AM - Pre-registration for Freeze Yer Gizzard Blizzard 5K/10K Run @ Backus
- 9:00 AM - 5K Starts
- 10:00 AM - 10K Starts
- 10:00 AM - Bloody Mary Bar @ On the Rocks
- 10:00 AM-4 PM - Vendor/Craft @ Union Hall in downtown IFalls
- 10:00 AM-2 PM - Family Game Time/Pizza @ IFalls Public Library
- 11:00 AM - Signup for Dart Tourney @ Border Bar
- 11:00 AM-Finals - Blizzard Bags (Cornhole) Tourney @ On The Rocks (outside!)
- 11:00-2:00 PM - Hot Cocoa Bar @ Union Hall sponsored by Northern Options for Women
- 11:30 - Freeze Yer Gizzard Race Awards @ Backus
- 12:00-1:30 PM - Turkey Bowling Adults/Kids @ 4th Ave near On The Rocks
- 12:00-1:30 PM - Toilet Seat Toss Adults/Kids @ 4th Ave near On The Rocks
- 12:00-4:00 PM - Sloppy Joe Feed Fundraiser @ Union Hall. Proceeds go to Bronco Track & Field
- 12:00-4:00 PM - Kids Coloring Contest and games @ Union Hall. Color contest ages 4-6; 7-9 & 10-12. Prizes awarded by the VFW!
- 1:00 PM-Finals - Dart Tourney at Border Bar
- 1:00 PM-Finals - Dodgeball Tourney @ Loony's Brew. Limit 8 teams. Must have 2 females on course at all times. Contact Ed to register @ 807-271-5374
- 1:30-3:00 PM - Smoosh Races Adults/Kids @ 4th Ave near On The Rocks
- 2:00-4:00 PM - Kids snowmobile rides @ Smokey Bear Park
- 6:00 PM - FIREWORKS! @ Smokey Bear Park
- 8:00-1:00 AM - Beach Party @ Border Bar
Sunday, January 29, 2025
- 11:00 AM-2:00 PM - Mimosa Bar @ Sammy's Pizza plus appetizer and drink specials
- 12:00-3:00 PM - 2024 Closing Ceremonies @ Cantilever Distillery. Join us for the Ultimate Bloody Mary Bar, Bonfire & IBD Button Buyer Prize Drawing and celebrate a victorious end to the 2024 winter festival.
