Please refer to this updated guide for the most recent information on the exclusively Theodore Wirth Park version of the Loppet Ski Festival.

2012 Loppet Event Map – Wirth Park
2012 Loppet Event Schedule & Bus Map Handout

Updated Event Schedules

• Saturday Event Schedule – MOA Family Day
• Sunday Event Schedule

Parking & Transportation

The Theodore Wirth Park area – from Highway 55 to Golden Valley Road/Duluth Street – will be closed to vehicle traffic through the weekend.  Convenient shuttle buses will run from the Mortenson Construction parking lot at the corner of Highway 55 and Wirth Parkway and the Optum Health parking lot, west of Highway 100 on Highway 55.  Please note that the Mortenson parking lot area is expected to fill quickly.  The Optum parking lot is bigger and easier.  Because it is only about 1.5 miles down the road from Mortenson, the difference in shuttle time will be minimal but it may be much less hassle factor.

Shuttle Schedule:

• Saturday – 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
• Sunday – 7:00 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shuttles will run on a constant schedule with a less-than-10-minute wait.  Biking and walking to the event are encouraged.

Note that it will be possible to walk from Mortenson to the Festival directly.  Proceed north to the Animal Humane Society.  Circle the building to the right (east side of building) and follow the path through the woods.  The path is narrow – watch your step . . .  It is less than 1/4 mile from the Humane Society to the Festival.

North Minneapolis Shuttle:

Metro Transit Bus:

Ride public transportation to the Loppet for free!  Take the 7 bus to all the way to the Plymouth Ave Bridge near the Wirth Chalet.  Click on the City of lakes loppet pass 2012 to download your free voucher.

Event & Schedule Updates

Event Updates

The Schedule for Saturday/MOA Family Day is unchanged, with one exception – the preliminary heats for the Finn Sisu Sprints start at 3:30 p.m., rather than 12:30 p.m., in the upper stadium area.

For changes to Sunday’s events please refer to Sunday’s updated schedule. Updated wave placement information for the freestyle event will be available later this week.

Park Nicollet Luminary Loppet – 6pm Start Sold Out

The 2012 Park Nicollet Luminary Loppet will be a strictly hiking event. The new course starts and finishes in the lower stadium area at Theodore Wirth Park (near the Par-3 clubhouse). The trail takes participants through the Twin Lake/Back-40 area before returning to the lower stadium area and the Loppet Tent Village. The trail is about 2.5 kilometers or 1.5 miles in length. Features include over one thousand luminaries lighting the way, cocoa stations, the Ice Pyramid, the enchanted forest, fire dancers, maple leaf cookies from Canada, and, for adults, a ten ounce sample of Surly beer (Surly only available to those with a photo ID). Like always, participants go at their designated time: 6, 6:30, 7, 7:30 or 8. With the warm temperatures participants should expect the trail to be wet. Hiking shoes or boots are advised.

Shuttle transport to the festival is expected to be particularly tight from 5:30 – 7 p.m.  For those with a 6, 6:30 or 7 p.m. start time, please plan to arrive early – though there is no need to worry about starting “late.”  This is a non-competitive event and we will have plenty of cocoa, candles and beer . . .  Note that the Mortenson Construction parking lot is expected to fill first.  The Optum parking lot is bigger and easier. Because it is only 1.5 miles down the road from Mortenson, the difference in shuttle time will be minimal but it will be much less hassle factor. It is recommended that skiers use the Optum parking lot on Sunday.

View Additional Updated Luminary Loppet Information

Registration and Packet Pickup

Registration and Packet Pickup Locations

Registration and packet pickup in the Fireplace Room (upstairs portions) of the Theodore Wirth Chalet. Note that weekend-of registration is not available for any event except the Park Nicollet Luminary Loppet, the Cook County Minne-Loppet, the REI Tour, the Hoigaard’s Classic and the Loppet Freestyle. In-person registration for those events is available on Saturday only, but for the Tour, the Classic and the Freestyle, registered participants may pick up their bibs on Sunday before their event starts.

For the Park Nicollet Luminary Loppet and Cook County Minne-Loppet only pre-registered participants may pick up their bib for the Minne-Loppet or Park Nicollet glow stick (required for admission to the Luminary Loppet) at the Minne- and Luminary Loppet tent in the tent area near the lower stadium area.

Hours of Operation for Registration and Packet Pickup

Wirth Chalet Registration and Packet Pickup (in fireplace room on second floor of Chalet):

• Saturday 11 a.m. – 7 p.m.
• Sunday 7:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Luminary and Minne-Loppet Registration and Packet Pickup Tent

• Saturday 1 p.m. – 8 p.m.
• Sunday – closed

Barcodes

This year the Loppet is moving to a new barcode system to ease the registration process. The Loppet will be emailing barcodes to participants on the Wednesday or Thursday prior to the event. Please print the barcode and bring it along. Note that those who, for whatever reason, cannot print their barcode will need to have a photo ID in order to pick up their Park Nicollet glow stick.

Spectating at the Loppet

Most Loppet events offer fun and free spectating. On Saturday/MOA Family Day, the SW Journal Snow Sculpture Contest, the Sit-Ski Challenge, Chuck & Don’s Skijoring Loppet, the Penn Ice-Cycle Loppet, Rossignol Junior Loppet, Finn Sisu Sprints, Cook County Minne-Loppet, and the Loppet Kubb Tournament, are all free to watch and enjoy. On Sunday all of the events offer free spectating as well. The Saturday evening events are the exception. The Park Nicollet Luminary Loppet and the Post-Luminary Party are both for ticketed patrons only; non-ticketed people will not be allowed in. The 6 p.m. Luminary Loppet start time is sold out, but there are spots remaining at 6:30, 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m. Similarly, the Post-Luminary Party is free for Luminary Loppet patrons, $10 at the door for all others.

All Sunday events offer free spectating, including the Hoigaard’s Classic, the REI Tour, the Loppet Freestyle and the Chuck & Don’s Skijoring Loppet with the two-dog national championships. In fact, at everything except the Luminary Loppet and Post-Luminary Party spectating is encouraged!

Festival goers can also enjoy free tubing on the tubing hill and free kids events at the Minnesota Youth Ski League SuperCarnival. The SuperCarnival offers ski games for kids – with obstacle courses and hot cider. Limited youth ski equipment will be available.

Free Tubing

The City of Lakes Loppet has arranged for free tubing for all comers during our festival weekend. Anyone in attendance at the festival may go tubing.

• All tubers must follow the normal rules of tubing at Theodore Wirth Park.
• Children under 5 must be accompanied by an adult.
• Have fun!

Tubing Schedule

Saturday:

• 9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
• 10:00 a.m. – 10:45
• 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
• 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• 4:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
• 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• 6:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m.
• 8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• 9:15 p.m. – Close

Sunday:

• 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
• 10:15 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
• 11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
• 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
• 1:45 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.
• 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• 4:15 p.m. – Close

Loppet Winter Golf

In honor of the wimpy winter, Theodore Wirth Park is hosting winter golf on the Front-9 of the golf course. $5 purchases a tennis ball, a golf club and a course to play on. Take the shuttle bus from Mortenson Construction or Optum Health, check in at the Theodore Wirth Park Chalet. Check out all the Loppet festival happenings, do the Luminary Loppet, purchase a Surly beer and enjoy the weekend. Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.