Pond Hockey, Fireworks, & Night Parade Highlight St. Cloud’s Bold & Bright

With winter on the way, it's only natural to start thinking up ways we can celebrate the coldest of our four seasons here in Central Minnesota. St. Cloud's Downtown Alliance announced yesterday that they are bringing back Bold & Bright for 2026. Here's what we know is planned for this year.

Bold & Bright Will Feature Pond Hockey & Fireworks

This year's Bold & Bright Winter Festival, which is scheduled to run January 30 – Feb 1, 2026, will feature many familiar events, plus the addition of pond hockey this year. According to a social media event page, this year's event will include:

• Pond Hockey Tournament
• Mac & Cheese Crawl
• Winter Market
• Toboggan Derby presented by Magnetic Spark
• Llamas presented by Metz & Co.
• Comedy Night
• Night parade
• Fireworks

A Great Way To Support Downtown St. Cloud During The Winter Months

Not only does this community celebration bring residents and visitors downtown for various events like the comedy night and the night parade, it is also a great reminder for all of us to shop and stroll downtown St. Cloud during the months we aren't able to dine outdoors.

Pond Hockey & Parade Registration Underway

According to the event website, both the pond hockey tournament and the night parade are taking registrations. You can also sign up for the 'Toboggan Derby Relay on Saint Germain', which to me sounds like bed races of years gone by, but on sleds.

Get our free mobile app

If you've never been to the parade or one of the other events that are a part of this weekend, you should give it a try, as I always seem to have more fun than I expect. Whether it's getting to meet new friends at the parade or running into a neighbor at the fireworks show, it seems you'll run into a friendly face, even if it has a scarf on.