Immediate Release – April 3, 2017

Vadnais Heights Launches Northern “Lights and Ice” Festival, January 25 – February 5, 2018 to celebrate Minnesota During 2018 NFL Super Bowl Week Frenzy (Vadnais Heights, MN)

The 52nd NFL Super Bowl will be held February 4, 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium, proud home of the Minnesota Vikings. Tickets, VIP hospitality and hotel packages are on sale now. Oddsmakers are already predicting AFC and NFC favorites. Will Minnesota be the hosting team? That is TBD. What is certain is the City of Vadnais Heights, the Vadnais Heights Economic Development Corporation (VHEDC) and Rust Architects have teamed up to launch the inaugural “Northern Lights and Ice Festival” to celebrate Minnesota and the wonders of ice and snow.

The family-friendly festival will run from January 25 to February 5, 2018 and will provide over one million football-fan visitors to the Twin Cities a first-hand look at the awesome beauty of the Land of 10,000 Lakes. The festival slogan is “Find your Minnesota Nice – in Vadnais Ice” The centerpiece of the festival will be a spectacular, expertly designed ice palace with amazing light shows that will dazzle imaginations. Numerous activities will surround the palace: ice maze, sledding, skating, ice sculptures, snow football and outdoor performances. Each day will feature a theme of related activities, highlighting what makes Minnesota a champion-state. Themes and activities include: farming, hunting and fishing, arts and performances, innovation, diversity, medicine, education, nonprofits and 10,000 lakes!

Palace architect Bill Rust designed the world-record 1992 Ice Palace on St. Paul’s Harriet Island in St. Paul and the 2004 Ice Palace for the NHL All Star Game. Steve Frattalone, of Frattalone Associates and the lighting specialist for the 1992 Ice Palace, will coordinate lighting and special effects. Tom Keller, another Ice Palace expert (1986 and 1992), will act as a consultant. Vadnais Heights Mayor Bob Fletcher, a former St. Paul law enforcement official, was closely involved with aspects of security, traffic and shuttle transportation for both the 1986 and 1992 St. Paul palaces.

Based on past St. Paul ice festivals and media attention during Super Bowl week, attendance for the Vadnais Heights’ “ Ice and Lights” festival could exceed 300,000. “Ice and Lights” and will be funded with donations and sponsorships. Naming rights/opportunities are available for the palace, maze, skating rink, shuttle buses, sledding hill, each themed day and various activities.

Volunteer recruitment meetings will be held tomorrow, Tuesday April 4th at the Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 East County Road F at 3:30 PM and again at 7:00 PM.

For more information contact Vadnais Heights Mayor Bob Fletcher at [email protected] (651-248-2400); City Administrator Kevin Watson at [email protected] or VHEDC Executive Director Ling Becker [email protected] You can also visit the festival website at www.lightsandice.com or contact the festival staff at: [email protected]