Loppet Moves to Theodore Wirth Park

The mild weather has altered another winter event. There is a long list of ice fishing competitions, snowmobile races and festivals that have been called off, postponed or moved because of the warmer than usual winter and the City of Lakes Loppet event has been added to the list.

The cross country ski race is still on, but it won’t weave its way through Uptown like it usually does, instead, it will be held at Theodore Wirth Park.

"With little to no chance of using the Chain of Lakes, it did not make sense to go forward with an Uptown finish," John Munger, executive director of the race sponsor, the City of Lakes Nordic Ski Foundation, said in a news release. "By making the move now, we can plan a great event for Wirth Park."

While the trail is full of snow, athletes will have to do multiple laps to make up for a smaller venue. Traffic in the area may also be a challenge since the parkway will be closed to traffic on Saturday and Sunday. Here is information from Minneapolis Park and Recreation Department website:

Theodore Wirth Parkway will be closed Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 4–5, to vehicle traffic from Highway 55 to Golden Valley Road/Duluth Street during the City of Lakes Loppet Cross-Country Ski Festival at Theodore Wirth Park. If you plan to attend Saturday or Sunday's Loppet events at Theodore Wirth Park, shuttle buses will run from the Mortensen Construction parking lot at the corner of Highway 55 and Theodore Wirth Parkway and the Optum Health parking lot west of Highway 100 on Highway 55 to Theodore Wirth Park on Saturday from 9 a.m.–11 p.m. and Sunday from 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m. Shuttles will run every 10 minutes. Biking and walking to the event is encouraged.