Holidazzle is up and running at Loring Park through Dec. 23 (shown in the above photo, by the Star Tribune's Aaron Lavinsky). The themed refreshments include a cold-press-coffee-infused Holidazzle Proper Porter from Fulton; Sociable Cider Werks’ Fat Bike Hot Mulled Apple Cider; and Kramarczuk’s Holidazzle Sausage stuffed with cranberries and wild rice. Other vendors will have paella, pierogies, smoothies, pancakes and cookie cups. (612-376-7669, holidazzle.com)
Despite its many transformations over the years, Holidazzle continues to thrive. Once a nightly parade, these days Holidazzle is a yuletide village that celebrates Minnesota’s unique character. Hosted by Loring Park, the festival boasts an array of diversions for all ages, including complimentary ice skating, outdoor movie screenings, live music, and fireworks. Santa Claus will be making the rounds, and there will be a special kids’ zone stocked with slides, mazes, and a climbing wall. Adults will find their own form of refuge in the Fulton beer garden, where the Minneapolis brewery is tapping the Holidazzle exclusive Proper Porter. Those hankering for further sustenance will find a wide assortment of local vendors serving up a smorgasbord of food and drink. At the holiday market shoppers can peruse handcrafted gifts, jewelry, apparel, and more. As for those seeking a reminder of Holidazzle’s classic light shows, Christopher Lutter-Gardella’s Wolf and Moose, an interactive twinkling art installation (made from 90% recycled materials), will return. For the daily lineup and more info, visit www.holidazzle.com. 5-10 p.m. Fri.; 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat.; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sun. Free. Loring Park, 1382 Willow St., Minneapolis.
And don't forget Holidazzle! There's new food at the Loring Park holiday spectacular, including North Mallow for roasting on Friday bonfires, Lady A's Cupcakes, I Look So Good Smoothies, and on Sundays, you can tuck into some Holidazzle Hash from Kabomlette while sipping on Micheladas in the Fulton Beer Garden.
On the Other Hand from Fulton Brewing and Left Hand Brewing: This super-delicious, limited edition beer brings together two of my favorite trends: collaborations and Brut IPAs.
Like other bruts, this beer is bone dry, with little to no residual sweetness. That allows the sparkly, tropical hops to really shine. Obscene amounts of Mosaic and Galaxy hops are added late in the process, which means they bring all the flavor with very little bitterness.
Thursdays-Sundays through Dec. 23:The Minneapolis holiday tradition Holidazzle has settled in to Loring Park for five weekends of festivities. New attractions this year include: The Thwing, an interactive multiperson swing; sleigh rides to and from downtown on Nicollet; photo ops inside giant snow globes; storytime on Sundays; s’mores stations with specialty marshmallows on Friday nights; and drag queen bingo at the Fulton Beer Garden on Friday nights. Returning faves include fireworks, movie nights, Santa meet-and-greets, bonfires and warming houses, food and shopping and free ice skating.
Some new features like a Sunday brunch, Friday night s’mores and rafts and records in the Fulton beer tent are also open to festival-goers.
Holidazzle has it all. Whether you want to meet Santa, get some Christmas shopping done or go on a sleigh ride, all your Christmas-themed excitement can be found at Loring Park.
Ryan Petz, co-founder and CEO of Fulton Brewery in Minneapolis joins us today on the phone to talk about his big Minnesota brewery. That’s right we’re back in Minneapolis for one more bonus interview from the best bike city in America. Ryan’s brewery started off brewing contract only and as the business grew, Ryan saw his role and business model changing drastically.
In the biking family, cyclocross comes off as a bit of a wild child — ready to get messy, take some risks, and do it all again if necessary.
Right down to the messy part, that was the playbook last weekend in Crystal at one of the premier events of the Minnesota cyclocross season.
The Fulton Star Cross is one in a series of weekend races that cyclocross riders have circled on their calendars when the season arrives in late August. By the time riders went over, up, down and around Lions Valley Place Park in Crystal, many had their bike legs. The weekend series began Sept. 9 at the All-City Intercontinental Championships at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.
MINNEAPOLIS - Can't grasp that we're on the cusp of the holidays? This might help.
Holidazzle announced Thursday that the annual holiday tradition will return to Loring Park in Minneapolis beginning November 23. Organizers say it will combine the classic favorite activities with a collection of new stuff that will add to the holiday cheer of visitors.
Among the new additions:
The Thwing, an interactive multi-person swing
Downtown sleigh rides to and from Nicollet in downtown’s core, with Mpls Downtown Improvement District activities on Nicollet at pick-up point
Photo opportunities inside giant snow globes
Alpacas and rescue animals on site during first four Sundays (Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 9, 16)
Storytime sessions on Sundays
S’mores station with specialty marshmallows each Friday night
Silent disco skating on Thursday nights
Adult Craft & Vinyl Night in Fulton Beer Garden on Thursday nights
Drag Queen Bingo at the Fulton Beer Garden on Friday nights
Sunday brunch at Holidazzle, including mimosas at Sociable Cider Werks, Micheladas at Fulton Beer Garden and Holidazzle Hash at Kabomelette
Minnesota’s Fulton Beer is bringing back their popular, limited release, New England-style IPA, Specter, on November 1st. Available in kegs, 4-pack cans, and draught.
This is the first time Specter will be available to wholesalers, retailers, and consumers in all regions of the United States by markets that sell and service by Artisanal Imports.
The Spector is a smooth, creamy mouthfeel and hazy appearance, with nearly 20% oats in the mash, a chloride-heavy water chemistry and low flocculating yeast. At 35 IBU’s, it was aggressively hopped
