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Minnesota to Host World Horticultural Expo 2031
For the first time ever, the International Horticultural Exposition is coming to the United States. Minnesota will host the event from May to October 2031. The exhibition, known as Expo 2031 Minnesota, USA, is akin to the World’s Fairs of the past and is expected to attract over six million visitors from around the world.
The Expo will convene global leaders to showcase the future of horticulture and agriculture. With Minnesota's impressive list of agricultural innovations, there is no better place for the event. The Honeycrisp apple (called Honeycrunch internationally) was developed at the University of Minnesota and helped revive the apple industry. Additionally, Minnesota is home to several Fortune 500 companies rooted in agriculture, including General Mills and Land O'Lakes.
Located near the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, the Expo will be easy to get to, and with 35 international non-stop flights, including Reykjavik, London, Dublin, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Paris and Rome, MSP is well-connected globally.
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Minnesota Embraces Winter
Winter in Minnesota is a time to be celebrated, marked by numerous festivals, activities and celebrations. Here’s a sampling that your audience and clients will find interesting and unique to Minnesota.
The St. Paul Winter Carnival, based in the state’s capital, is one of America’s oldest winter events, dating back to 1886. The legendary festival continues today and features an ice park, ice carving contests, torchlight parades, daily snow park activities, fireworks, a treasure hunt, city tours and more. The 140th Saint Paul Winter Carnival runs Jan. 22 to Feb. 1, 2026.
Nearby in the town of Stillwater, along the St. Croix River, the World Snow Celebration, which includes the World Snow Sculpting Championship, brings 16 elite snow artisan teams from across the world – Denmark, Great Britain, India, Lithuania, Malta, New Zealand, Switzerland, Peru, Thailand and more – to compete in a global gathering of talent and tradition. They transform massive blocks of snow into breathing works of art, all vying for the title of champion. The magic happens daily, and visitors can witness snow art come to life while chatting with the artists. The celebration runs from Jan. 13 to 25, 2026.
In Minneapolis, winter fun centers on different kinds of winter fun – cross-country skiing, fat tire biking and skijor races – at the City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival, which takes place Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 2026. After dark on Feb. 7, 2026, the Lake of the Isles shines with more than 1,200 luminaries lining a trail of unique ice features at Luminary Loppet. The Great Northern Festival, which continues to grow in popularity, focuses on live, local musicians, a sauna village, snow yoga and outdoor, pop-up bars and eating options. The festival runs Jan. 28 to Feb. 1, 2026.
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The Times They Are A-Changin'
Legendary singer-songwriter, poet and artist Bob Dylan was born and raised in northern Minnesota. His musical tenure has been prolific, with reinvention across decades that continues to influence music today. His record labels recently released an archival album, “Bob Dylan’s Bootleg Series Volume 18: Through the Open Window, 1956 – 1963.” The box set tells the story of Dylan’s emergence and maturation as a songwriter and performer, from Minnesota to Greenwich Village, New York.
Imagine cruising the original inspiration for “Highway 61” with Dylan’s deep lyrics permeating the air and nothing but an open road ahead. Cue “Blowin’ in the Wind” and start a one-of-a-kind journey, using Bob Dylan landmarks across Minnesota.
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Minnesota in the News
Fun Fact: Voyageurs National Park, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025, is open to the public and admission is free year-round.
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Explore Minnesota’s Market Development team shares timely information and story ideas with trade and media partners—we want you to know more about Minnesota and what makes it a special place to visit. |
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You have previously connected with Explore Minnesota, and we want to continue that relationship. Please share this newsletter with your peers and, as always, feel free to connect for personalized trip planning assistance.
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Photo credits, from top to bottom: Expo2031, Minnesota, USA;
Luminary Loppet in Minneapolis by Paul Vincent;
Bob Dylan mural in Minneapolis by Paul Vincent;
Split Rock Lighthouse on Lake Superior’s North Shore by Paul Vincent.
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