Uptown Businesses Sad To See Loppet Moved
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Our warm weather keeps wreaking havoc on big winter events.
The yearly City of Lakes Loppet in Minneapolis is still on. But it's being moved from it's usual Uptown finish to Theodore Wirth Park, where they can make snow.
The Loppet was supposed to start on Lake of the Isles this weekend, and finish in the heart of Uptown on Hennepin Avenue between Lake and 31st, but organizers didn't want to risk the competitors being on the ice.
Across the street is Calhoun Square, which was going to be the Loppet headquarters. Businesses are bummed they aren't going to be a part of the event, especially those new this year, like AT&T and CB2.
"The announcement came late Saturday night that they were going to have to move the festivities to Theo Wirth Park, just because of the conditions -- there's not enough snow to host it on the Chain of Lakes," said Kara Simons, marketing manager for Calhoun Square. "It's unexpected, it's unplanned, so it's just kind of making it work with what you have."
Even with the move to Theo Wirth Park, not much has changed for the Loppet.
Skiiers of all levels will compete on a loop made from artificial snow.
There will also be snow tubing and snow sculptures.
All the favorites will be on hand for non-skiiers, too, like the luminaries, ice pyramid and fire dancers.
