Event and Workshop Application

We're inviting educators, artists, makers, nonprofits, community groups, outdoor leaders, and local businesses to propose interactive events, workshops, demonstrations, and hands-on activities for The Great Northern Winter Festival.

The theme of The Great Northern’s 10th annual festival is Winter is A Verb: Celebrating a Decade of Cold. Our audience includes seasoned winter adventurers, eco-engaged enthusiasts,  downtown employees, Twin Cities residents, tourists, and more. Each year, the festival reaches 10,000–20,000 attendees.  

Workshops must be at least 2 hours and no more than 6 hours in length. Longer 6-hour workshops are preferred. 

Dates and times available for workshops (TBD)

• Saturday, January 30th, 2027: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
• Sunday, January 31st, 2027: 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Selected facilitators will be provided:

• Dedicated space within the festival footprint
• Marketing and promotional support
• Access to an engaged audience

Examples include:

• Visible mending and textile repair
• Food waste reduction and composting demonstrations
• Winter seed sowing
• Climate career exploration and skill-building
• Guided neighborhood or business tours
• Lantern making and illuminated art projects
• Puppet making and community art activities
• Printmaking and other hands-on crafts
• Bikepacking and winter cycling workshops
• Outdoor skills and winter recreation demonstrations
• Nature journaling and wildlife activities
• Cooking, food preservation, and seasonal recipes
• Wellness, mindfulness, and movement practices

Participating vendors receive the opportunity to:

• Connect directly with thousands of festival attendees throughout the weekend
• Be featured on The Great Northern's website as an official festival participant
• Receive promotion through festival marketing and social media channels
• Explore opportunities for collaborative social media content and cross-promotion
• Reach our growing audience of more than 20,000 email subscribers

Please note that submission does not guarantee acceptance. Workshops will be selected through a competitive review process based on alignment with The Great Northern’s core values, as well as on overall quality, feasibility, and potential for audience engagement.

Final scheduling and location details will be confirmed in Fall 2026. Material fees are not provided.

Early bird pricing ends October 1st, 2026.

Thank you for your interest in hosting a event/workshop at The Great Northern Winter Festival. Please review the following terms and conditions carefully. By submitting your application, you agree to comply with the guidelines outlined below.

Application & Approval Process

• Submitting an application does not guarantee participation in the festival.
• While you may be asked to provide payment information, no payment will be processed unless your application is approved.
• Upon approval, you will receive an invoice for the workshop fee. Workshop fees are non-refundable, regardless of cancellation, withdrawal, or weather-related disruption.

Zero-Waste Commitment

The Great Northern Winter Festival is committed to being a zero-waste event, and all workshop leaders are expected to actively support this goal. By participating, you agree to:

• Use only compostable, recyclable, or reusable packaging and service ware. All single-use items must be BPI-certified compostable or locally recyclable.
• Eliminate Styrofoam, plastic bags, plastic straws, and other non-recyclable plastics from your operations.
• Properly sort waste using the provided clearly labeled compost, recycling, and landfill bins.
• Ensure your staff are trained in proper waste diversion and materials handling.

Workshop leaders found to be in violation of these sustainability requirements may be removed from the festival without refund and may be prohibited from future participation.

Permits, Licensing & Compliance

• Workshop leaders are responsible for obtaining all required permits, licenses, and health certificates as applicable.
• All food workshop leaders must comply with local, state, and federal food safety regulations and be prepared for potential health inspections.

Insurance & Liability

• Workshop leaders may be required to provide proof of general liability insurance.
• The Great Northern Winter Festival, its producers, partners, and affiliated entities are not responsible for loss, damage, theft, or injury incurred before, during, or after the event.

Setup, Takedown & Hours of Operation

• Workshop leaders must adhere to designated setup and takedown schedules shared in advance.
• Booths must be fully set up before opening and remain operational during official festival hours.
• Late setup or early breakdown may result in removal from the event and disqualification from future opportunities.

Workshop Conduct & Appearance

• Workshop spaces must be clean, professional, and visually aligned with the spirit of the festival.
• Inappropriate behavior, offensive content, or disruption of any kind will not be tolerated and may result in immediate removal without refund.

Electricity & Equipment

• Access to outlets is limited and must be requested in advance.
• Workshop leaders are responsible for their own equipment.

Weather & Force Majeure

• The Great Northern Winter Festival is a rain, snow, or shine event.
• In cases of extreme weather or other force majeure events, the festival reserves the right to cancel, delay, or adjust programming without issuing refunds.

By submitting your event/workshop application, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to all terms listed above. You also commit to upholding The Great Northern’s mission to celebrate resilience, creativity, and connection to place—while supporting our shared responsibility to protect the environment through zero-waste practices.