A Local’s Guide to the Best Things to Do in Dubuque in Winter | Iowa USA

I wrote a whole guide of things to do in Dubuque, many of these things can be done during the winter season too. But in this post, you’ll find activities and events that are specifically during the colder months!

Winter in Dubuque

• ⛸️ImOn Arena Ice Rink
• 🥕Winter Farmers Market
• 🎄Christmas
• ⛷️Sundown Mountain Resort
• 🦅Bald Eagle Spotting
• 🥾Snowshoe and Cross Country Skiing

Events

• 🧊Ice Fest
• ☃️Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival
• 🍺Dubuque on Ice BrewFest
• 🏍️Theisen’s Snocrosss National

Ice Skating & Ice Hockey

• 🗺1800 Admiral Sheehy Dr, Dubuque, IA 52001, United States
• 📅Open year-round (Ice hockey season from September until March/April)

Head to the ImOn Arena to go ice skating during public skating times (usually on a Sunday) or watch the Dubuque Fighting Saints ice hockey team. Ice Hockey season tends to run from September until around March/April.

Winter Farmers Market

• 📅November until April

Dubuque is home to a year-round farmers market as they pride themselves on being able to supply the local community with fresh, healthy, local produce no matter what time of year!

In the summer months it’s held in Downtown Dubuque, but during the winter is it located inside Kennedy Mall. The market is open every weekend from 9am until noon, selling locally produced food and baked goods.

Get In The Christmas Spirit

• 📅November into Early January

During November and December, you’ll discover a range of Christmas events in Dubuque, perfect to get you in the Christmas Spirit!

A popular favourite is the Reflections In The Park drive-through Christmas light display! This runs from the Wednesday before Thanksgiving until January 1st. It’s a great festive winter event because you can enjoy it from the warmth of your own vehicle!

Go Skiing at Sundown Mountain!

• 🗺Sundown Mountain Resort, 16991 Asbury Rd, Dubuque, IA 52002, United States
• 📅End of November until March

If you’re looking for things to do in Dubuque in winter, you’ll find one of Iowa’s ski resorts!  Sundown Mountain Resort is located 20 minutes from the Downtown district. It has 21 ski runs for both beginners and advanced skiers and 2 terrain parks.

Even though the ski runs are groomed and they have machines that can produce snow, it’s best to visit on days when there has been a real snowfall. Often this will be when the slopes are in the best condition because they can sometimes be a little compact and icy!

Just across the state border in Illinois (around 30 minutes from Dubuque), is Chestnut Mountain Resort, another ski resort!

Spot Bald Eagles

• 📅December to March

Between December and March is the peak time to spot bald eagles in Dubuque! They migrate south from Canada to hunt for food. Lock and Dam 11 is a great place to see them as this part of the Mississippi doesn’t freeze.

Snowshoe and Cross Country Skiing

• 📅Depending on snowfall

20 minutes from the centre of Dubuque is Swiss Valley Nature Preserve. The parkland is open for walking and hiking year-round, but in the winter, when it snows they have groomed cross-country ski trails!

They also offer FREE snowshoe rentals because they want everyone to be able to get out and enjoy nature. Cross-country skis are also available.

Ice Fest

• 📅January

In the middle of January, each year the National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium holds its ‘Ice Fest‘ event. As well as the regular exhibits being open to enjoy from the warmth of the museum, there are other activities and demonstrations (weather dependant), that are held in the outside area!

These can include:

• ice fishing demonstrations
• sledding down mounds of snow
• opportunities to try snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
• snow carving
• s’mores and hot chocolate
• and more!

Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival

• 📅February

Taking place on the 2nd full weekend in February is the Winter Arts Snow Sculpting Festival, run by the Dubuque Museum of Art. This free event takes place over 4 days (with the main days being the weekend), where visitors can view giant sculptures that have been carved out of snow!

Food and drink are available for purchase and the museum is open if you want to escape the cold and view their indoor exhibits.

Like some of the winter events and things to do, this is weather-dependent. If it’s too warm (or there is no snow!) then it is unable to take place.

Dubuque on Ice Brewfest

• 📅February

Dubuque on Ice Brewfest is held every February. It’s a craft beer event that celebrates micro breweries in Iowa and the surrounding area. An entrance ticket comes with a free glass and you can try as many samples as you please.

It was originally called Dubuque ‘on ice’ because it used to be held at the Mystique Community Ice Center (now the ImOn Arena), however in 2022 it moved to the Grand River Conference Center.

Theisen’s Snocrosss National

📅1st weekend in April

Another winter event in Dubuque is the Theisen’s Snocross National held at Sundown Mountain Resort. This is a weekend event with snowmobile races, held the first weekend in April at the end of ski season. It partly takes place on the ski runs, so essentially completely destroys them!

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Last Updated on May 23, 2025