What Makes Stillwater Worth Visiting, Not Just Living In
Stillwater isn’t just a nice place to own a home, it’s a genuine regional destination. Forbes has named Stillwater one of America’s prettiest towns, citing its year round small town beauty, its setting along the St. Croix River valley, and its storybook look, especially during the holiday season.
A few things Stillwater is known for:
- Lumberjack Days, an annual summer festival with log rolling, live music, and a beer garden that draws crowds from across the metro
- Stillwater Harvest Fest, held each fall, featuring a pumpkin regatta on the river and a giant pumpkin weigh off
- The World Snow Sculpting Championship, part of the larger World Snow Celebration held downtown each January, where elite international teams compete in Lowell Park to create massive snow sculptures
- Lift Bridge Brewing Company, one of Minnesota's largest craft breweries, headquartered in Stillwater
- A treats trail of ice cream shops, malt counters, and candy stores, including the long running Nelson's Ice Cream and Leo's Malt Shop
- Summer Tuesdays, a long running weekly summer tradition at Lowell Park held from July through mid August, featuring a vendor market, live music, and an outdoor movie every Tuesday evening
- Opera on the River, a free outdoor concert at Lowell Park that draws more than three thousand attendees each year as one of Minnesota's leading outdoor opera events
- Lowell Park, the riverfront green space along the St. Croix that anchors most of downtown's outdoor events
Life on the St. Croix River
Stillwater’s identity is inseparable from the river it sits on. In warmer months, the St. Croix becomes an extension of downtown itself, with riverboat cruises departing right from the levee, kayak and paddleboard rentals along the water, and the Loop Trail, which crosses the historic Lift Bridge into Wisconsin, drawing walkers, runners, and cyclists throughout the day. Fishing, boating, and simply watching the river traffic from a bench in Lowell Park are as much a part of daily life here as anything happening on Main Street.
Winter in Stillwater
Stillwater does not slow down in the cold months, it moves the celebration outdoors in a different way. Each January, downtown hosts the World Snow Celebration, a thirteen day festival built around the World Snow Sculpting Championship, where elite sculpting teams from around the world travel to Lowell Park to compete for the title of World Champion. In February, Winterfest brings a different kind of winter tradition to downtown, a community wide celebration with live music, a winter market, and a genuinely playful local spirit that keeps Main Street active through the coldest stretch of the year.
Where to Eat and Where to Get Your Coffee
Part of what makes Stillwater feel different from a typical suburb is a genuinely independent dining and coffee scene, almost entirely free of chains. A few longtime local favorites for dinner downtown include Feller, Brick and Bourbon, and Quickfire Pizza, alongside a coffee culture built around small, independent shops including Made Coffee and Mon Petit Cheri, well known locally for its scones.
Family Friendly Stillwater
Teddy Bear Park, tucked into a residential neighborhood not far from downtown, is one of the town’s most loved family spaces, a favorite stop for young families living in or visiting Stillwater.
Thinking About Making Stillwater Home?
This page covers what makes Stillwater a great place to visit and spend time. If you are considering buying or selling in the area, see our full Stillwater real estate guide, including neighborhoods, housing types, and the 55082 ZIP code area.