Prior Lake's second annual Polar Palooza embraces winter

Prior Lake American

In most areas of the United States, people shelter themselves once winter hits and reemerge once the weather is tolerable.

Not in Minnesota.

Prior Lake is no exception — the city and Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce will host the second annual Polar Palooza next week to celebrate winter and get residents outside.

"Whether they participate in one day, one night, two days, two nights, we'd love to have them come out and celebrate winter in Prior Lake," chamber President Sandi Fleck said.

Polar Palooza began in 2017 as Winterfest, a partnership with the Minnesota Vikings. Residents were able to meet players and cheerleaders for the team as well as play games, attend a concert and see fireworks.

"We decided it would be a good fit for Prior Lake and our businesses and our community to embrace that," Fleck said. "This year, we expect it to be bigger and better."

The 2019 Polar Palooza will begin on Jan. 24 with a Ladies Night Out from 5-8 p.m. in downtown. Tickets are $15 until Jan. 23 and $20 at the event. Online registration ends on Jan. 23. The event will feature shopping, vendors and a scavenger hunt.

"You are outside from store to store — I think that's a great way to visit our downtown boutiques and stores and restaurants," Fleck said.

On Jan. 25, there will be a wine, spirit and beer tasting from 6-8 p.m. at South Lake Village on Highway 13. Tickets are $15 until Jan. 24 and $20 at the door. There will also be a hot dish contest in classic Minnesotan fashion.

Jan. 26 will feature ice golf from noon to 2:30 p.m. on the lake outside of Charlie's on Prior. Ice golf is a chamber tradition, though 2019 will be the first year the event is included in the Polar Palooza.

In ice golf, teams dressed in costumes fitting the theme — circus this year — go around a course of various games and obstacles created by the sponsors of the event.

"It's a very fun winter activity of something to do together and get out of your house and get outside," said Savage resident Laurie Farnen, who has played ice golf for 16 or 17 years.

Farnen said she hopes the inclusion of ice golf in Polar Palooza will bring awareness of the game to people who have never played it before.

"We might get some people who have never played before," she said. "Every year, I try to find one or two people or friends who haven't played ice golf and say, Just come and have some fun outdoors with us."

In addition to the course, Charlie's On Prior will have an ice bar on the lake complete with shotskis — several shots on a ski, which multiple people take at the same time — and minnow shots, or shots of liquor with a live minnow swimming in there.

"It's fun out on the ice," Charlie's On Prior Assistant General Manager Owen Schultz said. "It's a completely different atmosphere. We're Minnesotans. It's kind of our thing to head out on the ice and have fun."

Prior Lake resident Corey Stich, who played ice golf for the first time in 2017, said the game is a good way to highlight local businesses.

"It puts the business in a different light, and instead of being at home, it gets people out," Stich said.

While most of the events during Polar Palooza are geared toward adults, Sunday will feature family-friendly, free activities at Lakefront Park from noon to 3 p.m.

"It's great to get the family out in the winter, especially this time of year after the holidays," City Recreation Manager Angie Barstad said. "It's just to get something out that's free so it's economical for a family. You have to buy the food, but otherwise it's a real cheap afternoon to get out and enjoy the winter today."

If the snow and ice cooperate, the event will feature snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sledding, a DJ and a warming house. The Brick Oven Bus food truck will be serving pizza.

"We'll provide all the equipment — just not the sleds," Barstad said.