Winter Carnival Fun in Saint Paul Minnesota

Twin Cities Festival Celebrates its 123rd Year Building Ice Castles

Jan 4, 2009

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is set for family fun on January 22 through February 2, 2009 with ice carving competition, and fanciful family oriented entertainment.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival, called the Coolest Celebration on Earth, is celebrating its 123rd anniversary on February January 22 through February 2, 2009. Over 350,000 people come out to play in the ice and snow every year for the carnival. The weather may be icy, but the cameraderie helps to keep people warm as they come out for fresh, brisk air.

History of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival

The first festival was held in 1886 when Saint Paul, Minnesota was named America’s fastest growing city. The city was also America’s third largest rail center. The inaugural Saint Paul Winter Carnival was held during the first two weeks of February in 1886 to celebrate the city’s success.

Business leaders wanted to showcase Saint Paul and to disprove a New York newspaper reporter who had described their city as “another Siberia, unfit for human habitation in the winter,”

Saint Paul’s carnival was patterned after the Winter Carnival in Montreal. Saint Paul’s first Winter Carnival included activities such as parades, snow shoeing, skiing, games and an ice castle.

The Winter Carnival Legend

Saint Paul’s festival has a fanciful back story, filled with characters of legend, such as gods Asraious and Eos who were wed and had five sons. The oldest son, Boreas, was titled King of the Winds and he granted each brother a great force and power.

Boreas came across a winter paradise called Minnesota and he was enchanted by the beauty of seven gently sloping hills. Boreas named Saint Paul and her seven hills the capital of all his domains. Boreas proclaimed a celebration in spite of the plans of his enemy Vucanus to ruin the party with the heat of his fiery forces.

A joyous ten days followed, with feasting, dancing fun an frolic that as reigned over by Boreas and his Queen of Snows. One the tenth day of the carnival, Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe stormed the Ice Palace and Boreas left his winter capital to keep peace and goodwill for his people in Saint Paul.

Ice Carving and Winter Festivities

The Ice Carving Competition is the highlight of the carnival. Artisans craft works of art from blocks of ice throughout the festival. The King Boreas Grande Day Parade is on January 24 and the Torchlight Parade in on January 31. Following are some of the Winter Carnival activities, from the official Winter Carnival website.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is produced by the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation. St. Paul, Minnesota

The copyright of the article Winter Carnival Fun in Saint Paul Minnesota in Minnesota Travel is owned by Christine Nyholm. Permission to republish Winter Carnival Fun in Saint Paul Minnesota in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.