A boarder catches air during Jib & Jam at Lutsen Mountains.

“Don’t hibernate–celebrate!” If you ask me, that should be the winter motto of Cook County.

Not only are we Minnesota’s winter playground, what with Lutsen Mountains, 120 inches of snow annually, and hundreds of miles of snowshoe, snowmobile and cross-country ski trails, we also keep things hopping all season long with festivals to suit every interest. Art? Check. Family fun? Check. Adventure? Check. Music? Double check. But don’t take my word for it. Here are some of the big events we’ve got in store this winter: Winterer’s Gathering & Arctic Film Festival
Grand Marais
Nov. 15-18 A North Shore Holiday
Countywide
Nov. 16-Dec. 25 Lutsen Mountains Opening Weekend
Nov. 17-18 Thanksgiving Festival
Lutsen Mountains
Nov. 21-24 Jib & Jam: Rail Jam
Lutsen Mountains
Dec. 1 Snowball Music & Ski Festival
Lutsen Mountains
Jan. 9-12, 2013

Winter Arts Festival
Grand Marais
Jan. 26-Feb. 1, 2013

Winter Tracks Festival
Countywide
Feb. 1-10, 2013