Cold Front festival this Saturday

Duluth Parks and Recreation will host the 8th annual Cold Front on Saturday, February 1 at Bayfront Festival Park. Residents and guests are invited to participate in the free, family-friendly festival celebrating the best of winter fun. Parking in the park-adjacent lots is also free during the event.

Cold Front features activities that appeal to the whole family, including sledding, s’mores and bonfires, ice skating, fat-tire bike demos, dog sledding demos, skiing, curling, and more.

For those with sensitivities, a sensory tent area will be on-site, and the sensory guide is available for guests who would have a better experience by having advance sensory information. Find it on the Cold Front website.

Activities and event conditions may vary based on the weather leading up to and on the day of the event. Temperatures and weather may impact further event scheduling, and the schedule on the website will be adapted as needed. Festivalgoers can view the event schedule here.

Duluth Library Foundation launches citywide Valentine Box project to celebrate 35 years

This February, the Duluth Library Foundation invites the community to share their love for the Duluth Public Library through its Library Valentine Box initiative.

Part of the Foundation’s 35th anniversary "Love Is All Around at the Library" campaign, the heartwarming project encourages residents to express their appreciation for the library while engaging with a citywide display of creatively decorated Valentine boxes.

February 14, 2025, marks the 35th anniversary of the Duluth Library Foundation. To commemorate this milestone, the Foundation will host a variety of public events and programs throughout the year, starting with this interactive Valentine’s project.

From toddlers to retirees, community members have come together to decorate 75 Valentine boxes, which are now placed in businesses and public spaces across Duluth. Each box serves as a hub for residents to drop off handwritten Valentine messages celebrating the Duluth Public Library’s vital role in the community.

The decorated boxes will be on display until February 10. Their locations will be announced online and updated daily on the Duluth Library Foundation’s social media channels (@duluthlibraryfoundation on Facebook and Instagram).

Duluthians are encouraged to visit the boxes, pick up a Valentine-themed borrower’s card, and write a heartfelt message. Thoughtful prompts are provided for inspiration, but personal messages of appreciation are welcome! Participants are also invited to share photos on social media using #LoveIsAllAroundAtTheLibrary.

At the project’s conclusion on February 10, the Foundation will collect the Valentines and assemble them into an 8x8 artistic banner. This banner will be displayed during Duluth and St. Louis County Days at the Capitol, showcasing the community’s love for its library, its dedicated staff, and its wide-ranging programs.

After its journey to St. Paul, the banner will return to Duluth Public Library’s downtown location, where it will remain on display throughout February for the community to enjoy.

“This initiative is a testament to how deeply Duluth values its public library,” said Megan Keogan, of the Duluth Library Foundation. “The overwhelming response from residents and businesses — from decorating boxes, hosting them in their stores, and contributing hundreds of Valentines—shows the genuine love and appreciation for our library.

“It’s a creative way to celebrate community connections, advocate for library funding, and highlight the countless personal stories and cherished memories that residents have made at the Duluth Public Library.”