Your Insider's Guide to SocialICE 2020
Get ready for three days of ice, fun, and themed cocktails at SocialICE—Rochester Minnesota’s Ice Bar February 6-8 in downtown Rochester! If you’ve never been or are a regular, you’ll appreciate this insider’s guide featuring highlights of SocialICE.
ICE BARS & NEW RESTAURANTS
From The Simpsons to Stranger Things, SocialICE ice bar themes run the gamut. All will be beautifully displayed in ice and light. The five bars—Cameo at the Castle, Chester’s Kitchen & Bar, Dooley’s Pub & Restaurant, Kathy’s Pub, and The Loop—will be slinging craft cocktails to fit their unique themes. Be sure to stay tuned to the SocialICE page for their drink reveal videos.
One drink we can reveal now is from Café Steam, a new-in-2020 non-alcoholic drink vendor. The Churchill is a non-alcoholic spiced cider made with chai spices, wild turkey bourbon simple syrup, and a smoked cinnamon stick. Sounds perfect on a cold winter’s night!
Another way to warm up at SocialICE is with a good, hearty meal. Jerk King will be offering its famous patties, which taste like a savory pot roast in a fluffy pastry. The best part? They fit perfectly in your hand and transport well while exploring SocialICE’s life-sized ice sculptures!
ENTERTAINMENT
Dance the drab winter blues away with SocialICE’s nightly DJ entertainment. Each brings a beat to keep you moving (and warm):
- DJ Peps (Rochester): 5-9 p.m. Thursday, February 6
- DJ Johnny D (Twin Cities): 5-10 p.m. Friday, February 7
- DJ Ruca (Twin Cities): 5-10 p.m. Saturday, February 8
ACTIVITIES
If a more active time at SocialICE is what you seek, have we got activities for you! These are sure to keep you celebrating winter:
- Curling alley presented by Destination Medical Center
- LED Hula Hoops
- Giant illuminated snowball toss
- Photo opportunities next to the life-sized ice sculptures, by the Wall of ICE, or in front of the giant SocialICE letters (see details below about how taking photos at SocialICE can get you sweet prizes)
More SocialICE activities are being confirmed and will be released soon!
CONTESTS
Six lucky shutterbugs will be winners if they participate in the #SocialICE photo contest. The three categories include photo with giant SocialICE letters, photo of an ice bar/general event, and photo of you/your group enjoying a SocialICE activity. Each chosen image’s photographer will receive a $25 gift card/prize and and the top one in each category will get a Downtown Rochester MN stocking hat; that's more than $200 in giveaways!
Gentlemen, start growing out those beards, because come the Saturday of SocialICE, we’re having a beard contest! The person with the longest beard and the one with the most unique beard will be in store for some awesome prizes.
Plaid isn't just fashionable and warm: wearing it to SocialICE could also score you rewards! Don your favorite pieces and if it's voted best overall, you'll get bragging rights as finest plaid dressed and a grand prize. Find SocialICE plaid contest details here.
BUNDLE UP…
The average February temperature in Rochester can be a high of 28 degrees to a low of 11 degrees. Dressing for the cold Minnesota weather doesn’t need to be a hassle. To keep warm and toasty, here are some layering tips in preparation for attending SocialICE:
- Base layer: long underwear to keep your skin dry
- Middle layer: a fleece or puffy jacket to keep the body heat in
- Outer layer: a water-proof shell to keep the rain and snow out
For more advice on how to dress for SocialICE, REI offers some helpful tips.
…OR WARM UP
Despite its outside appearance, the giant igloo at SocialICE is quite toasty inside. Come inside to warm up and mingle with others doing the same. If you just need to take the cold edge off, head to the fire pits, thanks to Kraus-Anderson, and don’t miss a bit of the illuminated action.
PARKING
Downtown Rochester offers several parking options, both on the street and in city ramps. Street parking and city ramps (excluding Mayo Clinic ramps) are free after 5 p.m. weekdays and on the weekend, coinciding perfectly with SocialICE hours. Visit the City of Rochester parking website for more information.
The Rochester Downtown Alliance encourages all to plan a sober ride to and from the event. If you need a sober ride, Uber and Lyft provide ride-sharing services.
SocialICE—Rochester Minnesota’s Ice Bar is February 6, 7, & 8. For a full event schedule, drink video reveals, and more details, check out the SocialICE Facebook event and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
Click for a SocialICE map here.
For free family-friendly winter fun, check out the SocialICE FAM JAM Insider's Guide here.