The holiday season is great. I love the events that stretch from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve. I love the special music, the candlelight, the décor, and the traditions. For me, most of the fun is wrapped up in the buildup to the Big Day. If the holiday season were a bell curve, Christmas would be the peak, and New Year’s would mark the downhill slide.
But when it’s all said and done, once the tree is out of the house and all the glitz has been relocated to its appropriate bins in the basement, there’s a bit of a void. Especially here in Hotdish Land, where winter seems to stretch out before us like a long, flat country road. We know it ends somewhere, but from this vantage point, it looks like it’ll go on forever.
All that to say, now that the holiday high is over, a lot of us may be wondering, “What now?!”
Glad you asked.

I love the North Dakota winter. Not because of the cold and wind—I’ve never met anyone who genuinely enjoys a -25˚ windchill. Rather, I love the winter because it gives us an opportunity to take a deep dive into what this community offers. In the warmer months, I tend to overlook our indoor fun, preferring to be outdoors, enjoying the endless summer light. Winter gives us a special chance to explore Minot’s indoor spaces and activities.

Here is some inspiration for you—ideas for indoor fun that will fill the next couple of months with fond memories instead of cabin fever. The following list is not comprehensive, but it’s a place to get you started. For convenience, ideas are listed alphabetically:

1. Ann Nicole Nelson Hall—Watch a variety of entertainment at Ann Nicole Nelson Hall at MSU. Everything from visiting artists to campus groups and music students perform here.
2. Bowling—Look into options and hours at North Hill Bowl (and Rough Rider Lanes if you have base access.)
3. Chaos Games—Check their schedule for events and game meet-ups.
4. Cooking Class—Prairie Sky Breads and Gourmet Chef both offer classes.
5. Escape Point—Try an escape room adventure.
6. Fun Zone—Kids 10 and under can enjoy free bounce houses and wheeled toys three days a week at the City Auditorium.
7. Get Air—Jump your heart out at the trampoline park.
8. Ice Skating—Rent skates or bring your own to Maysa Arena.
9. Indoor Golf—Try a golf simulator at GolfX or The Bunker.
10. Libraries—Be sure you have all your library cards (Minot Public, Ward County, and Minot AFB, if you are military). Then enjoy events like story times, board game meet-ups, LEGO/robot/Pokémon/reading clubs, and other free special events.
11. Live Music—Check out live music from the Minot Symphony Orchestra, Minot Brass Band, and Chamber Chorale. Or opt for something more upbeat with bands playing at venues like Ebeneezer’s and The Original.
12. Magic City Discovery Center—This is probably my family’s favorite place to be indoors; we spend hours here during cold weather.
13. Margie’s Art Glass—Take a class, or just paint ceramics.
14. Minotauros Hockey—Catch a hockey game and become a fan of our local team.
15. Movies—See a movie at Dakota Square or Oak Park Theater.
16. MSU Sports—Root for the Beavers in hockey and basketball.
17. Open Gym Gymagic—Gymagic offers open gym time for kids and adults.
18. Play Arcade Games—Play arcade games and laser tag at Tilt Arcade and Planet Pizza.
19. Putt District—Glow-in-the-dark mini-golf that’s fun for all ages.
20. SCHEELS—Play roller ball (mini bowling) for just $1/game for up to 4 people. They’ve also got arcade games and a fun candy shop to explore.
21. Splash Down—While it’s freezing outside, splash and slide in a place where it’s always 80˚.
22. Take a Class—Learn something new by enrolling in a class through the Minot Adult Learning Center community ed program or MSU’s Lifelong Learning Institute—where you can sign up for anything from crochet to AI art.
23. Theater Productions—Mouse River Players, Make a Scene Kids Theater (MASK), and MSU Theater all have productions or camps in the winter months.
24. Trivia Nights—Several bars offer weekly trivia nights. Form a team and test your knowledge.
25. Up Your Axe—Throw axes once or join a league for regular meet-ups.
    Hopefully, this will get your wheels turning, and you’ll be up for the challenge of embracing the chance to explore some indoor options this winter. Now you can’t say there’s nothing to do because this list proves otherwise.
    For more great ideas about life in Hotdish Land or to connect with me further, visit amyallender.com, or follow along at @HeyMinot or @amy_allender on social media.