Family Fun And Cozy Bonfires At Paynesville’s Moonlight Meander
The 15th annual Moonlight Meander is coming to Paynesville later this month.
The family-friendly event features candlelit trails, bonfire pits and hot refreshments. The Moonlight Meander at Crow River Nature Park is set to run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, February 28th.
The Moonlight Meander features over 400 candle luminaries and several bonfire stops.
MOONLIGHT MEANDER HISTORY
The event is hosted by the Crow River Trail Guards, who note the event has only been canceled twice in it's fifteen year history. The first cancellation was due to a massive snowstorm in 2018 and the second due to COVID-19 in 2021. The organizers say the event has never been canceled due to cold, saying 'remember, we are Minnesotans.'
The one-mile-long network of trails is maintained year round by Mike Monnens and Joseph Lang, making the trails open for walking without skis or snowshoes, per the Trail Guard's website.
The park gets a considerable amount of use in the winter. And why not – it is incredibly beautiful down there this time of year. The silent, sleeping, and snow-filled woods, the frozen river with sparkling flowing water in areas, the fact that windy weather is subdued by the trees and river-bottom landscape, and the quiet nature of very secluded park conditions during these cold days all make for a great place to escape the fast pace of our increasingly-crazy modern world.
WHAT: Moonlight Meander
WHEN: Saturday, February 28th, 2026 (6-9 p.m.)
WHERE: Crow River Nature Park (200 Burr Street Paynesville)
COST: Free to attend