About
Welcome to the 2026 Sandstone Ice Climbing Festival!
Please join us for a fun weekend of ice climbing and community. This celebration of winter reaches the cold-tolerant from around the Midwest and Canada. The event has always been a great way to learn new skills, connect with old friends and make new ones! Embrace the frozen beauty and forge unforgettable memories - the weekend is packed with clinics, gear demos, raffle prizes, and a ton of fat ice for you to climb to your hearts delight. Mark your calendars and join us for a weekend of icy excitement!
The Sandstone Ice Climbing Festival:
A Brief History
2005
The Sandstone Ice Festival had its beginnings in the spring of 2005 when a small group of climbers approached the city of Sandstone, Minnesota to discuss the possibility of establishing a local ice climbing festival in Robinson Park Quarry.
2006
First ever Frozen Kettle Chili Cook-off, a tradition is born. It all started with a couple of climbers wanting to share a warm meal. The Chili Cook-off has become an annual Ice Festival tradition.
2007
Ice Climbing Elvis makes a surprise visit to the Festival.
2008
The Sandstone Ice Festival continues to deliver fun and adventure.
2009
Professional ice climber Dawn Glanc visits the festival and gives a slideshow to a packed crowd of winter sports lovers.
2010
The Sandstone Ice Festival gets a shout-out from the National Geographic Explorer Magazine.
2011
First year of the Robinson Quarry Ice Park. Organized by the Minnesota Climbers Association and supported by the city of Sandstone, city water lines are extended to create Minnesota’s first Ice Park.
2012
Ice Park expanded to add Class II ice providing access to beginner climbers. The Sandstone Ice Festival is featured on WCCO’s Finding Minnesota.
2013
Sandstone Ice Festival partners with Hard Water Sports to continue to grow and promote the event.
2014
Another great festival year.
2015
Sandstone Ice Festival celebrates TEN years of climbing ice!
2016
The Festival was sadly canceled due to unseasonably warm temperatures not favorable to making ice.
2017
The Minnesota Climbers Association’s first swing at Ice Festival organizing. Evening activities moved to The Audubon Center of The North Woods.
2018
Year two for the MCA. Professional climber Angela VanWiemeersch joins us at The Audubon Center of The North Woods for a stellar presentation and climbing in The Park.
2019
TACO BAR! Courtesy of The American Alpine Club Featured speaker Kevin Mahoney.
2020
Trad and Mixed Climbing Clinic and our keynote speaker - Black Diamond Athlete Raphael Slawinsk!
2021
Canceled due to pandemic complications.
2022
Tent Festival! All events take place in Robinson Quarry Park. Alpine legend Scott Backes taught the Drytooling and Mixed Climbing clinic this year. The Festival’s first BIPOC Introduction to Ice Climbing clinic lead by Janel Rieger
2023
Presentation: MN Climbers Karina and Taylor Krosbakken. The Ice Farming crew expands the farming effort further south, just in time for the Festival.
2024
Presentation: MN Climbers Janel lynn and scott backes.
Please say thank you to the city of Sandstone by supporting local business and generally being good people.
+ Whitney’s Country Café | 420 Main St.
+ Woody's Bar and Liquor Store | 1038 MN-23 (formerly Rich's Bar)
+ El Mexico Bar & Grill | 945 MN-23 N
+ Sandstone Pizza & Deli | 410 Main St
+ SandRocks | 421 Commercial Avenue North
+ Chris' Food Center and Gasoline & Subway Sandwiches | 320 MN-123
+ Casey's General Store and Gasoline | 302 MN-23
+ Victory Station – Gasoline | 325 Quarry Place