We urge you to get out of the house this weekend. After all, that’s the reason the Albert Lea Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce and other local leaders started The Big Freeze three years ago.

They looked at the Albert Lea calendar and thought there was a big dead spot in February, a time when (most years) there are a lot of great winter activities.

They thought a winter festival would put a stop to the winter blahs, fight cabin fever, highlight local winter recreation and get people moving.

You can see a listing of the Saturday fun with a story on the Front Page that continues on Page 12. If you do nothing else, make sure your children get to have some fun. Take them ice fishing or take them to the children’s carnival or to both.