Every winter, St. Paul is transformed into a winter carnival playground, complete with giant ice sculptures, giant snow slide, sled dogs and and ice maze.
The Ice Festival will be running from January 26 to February 4, 2007. The ten day festival is filled with activity and entertainment for the entire family.
Harriet Island Regional Park in downtown Saint Paul (across the river from the Science Museum of Minnesota) will be “Winter Carnival Park”, Happy visitors can ride down the giant snow slide, mush a sled dog team, get lost in the amazing ice maze, and warm up in the Minnesota Hot Dish Tent. the beauty of the snow and ice sculptures will be all around . These activities and more will be available on the island during the 2007 Saint Paul Winter Carnival.
Como Park Ski Hill will be a satellite venue hosting the KARE11 Winter of Fitness event, which will be held both weekends of Carnival. Activities will include: snowboarding, snowshoeing, downhill and cross country skiing at no charge
The Ice Festival is the stuff of legend:
According to Royal Legend “The King of the Winds” Boreas and his brothers cavorted over land and sea until they found Minnesota. After pausing the behold the enchanting beauty of a magnificent groups of seven gently sloping hills with the City of Saint Paul nestled within, Borea declared it an ideal place and made it the capitol of all his domains.
Boreas proclaimed a celebration, “There will be a carnival in old Saint Paul:
For ten glorious days, there was Carnival and joyous celebration in St. Paul with feasting, dancing, fun and frolic. King Boreas and the Queen on Snows reigned over the event. On the tenth day, the ice palace was relinquished to Vulcanus Rex, the god of Fire. Boreas and his queen returned to Olympus until the next year, why the frosty atmosphere of winter would again prevail.
Over 250,000 people are drawn to St. Paul, Minnesota to celebrate the Ice festival. There are over 75 events planned over the ten day period. The main attractions are the elaborate ice sculptures which are displayed. Teams compete with each other in creating the fabulous works of art in ice.
Following is a partial list of the events scheduled for the festival:
Friday, January 26
Winter Carnival Mixed Curling Bonspiel
Snow Sculpting Competition
Multi-Block Ice Carving Competition
Art Treasure Hunt in the Capitol
Gaslight Tours
Winter Carnival’s 2007 Royal Coronation Dinner
An Evening with the Gilbert’s
Teen Night – Band Showcase
Winter Carnival’s 2007 Royal Coronation
2007 Royal Ball
Saturday, January 27
Winter Carnival Mixed Curling Bonspiel
Securian Frozen 5K and Half Marathon
Snow Sculpting Competition
2007 Winter Carnival Disc Sports Festival
2007 Winter Carnival Gymnastics Classic
Single Block Ice Carving Competition
Minnesota Wild Pond Hockey Championships
Winter Carnival Orchid Show
Saintly City Cat Show
Vulcan Coming Out
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Winter Carnival Dance Team Competition
Winter on the Hill
Winter Carnival Kids Activities
Como Zoo Exhibit – Visit with a Penguin
Grande Day Parade
Will Steger Scout Camp Out
Shakespeare’s – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
Gaslight Tours
Jazz Night
Saint Paul Winter Carnival Medicine Show Concert
Sunday, January 28
Winter Carnival Mixed Curling Bonspiel
2007 Winter Carnival Gymnastics Classic
Minnesota Wild Pond Hockey Championships
Saintly Cit Cat Show
Snow Sculpting Competition
2007 Winter Carnival Disc Sports Festival
Winter Carnival Orchid Show
Winter Carnival Kid’s Activities
Winter on the Hill
Hot Time in the Park
Art Treasure Hunt in the Capitol
Cryogenics – The Big Chill
Polar Bear Journey
Shakespeare’s – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
Latino Fest
Monday, January 29
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Weather Station Educational Program
Showcase Saint Paul
Tuesday, January 30
Art Treasures Hunt int he Capitol
Weather Station Educational Program
Showcase Saint Paul
Taste of the Twin Cities Originals
Wednesday, January 31
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Weather Station Educational Program
Showcase Saint Paul
Thursday, February 1
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Senior’s Day
Senior Coronation
Friday, February 2
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Weather Station Educational Program
Showcase Saint Paul
Gaslight Tours
Adult Music Night
Klondike Kate Saloon
Circus Junentus Presents – Pazzanni
Saturday, February 3
Softball on Ice
Car Racing on Ice
Tartan Terrific Snowshoe Race
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Winter on the Hill
Purina Dog Sled Rally
Winter Carnival Kids Activities
Novice Speed Skating Open Meet Rondo Ave Inc presents – Winter Soul Celebration
Circus Juventus Presents – Pazzanni
Skiojoirng Exhibition
Volcan’s vs the Royal Family Broomball Competition
Shakespeare’s – A Midwinter Nights Dream
Torchlight Parade
Gaslight Tours
Circus Juventus Presents – Pazzanni
Winter Carnival’s 2007 Vulcan Victory Dance
Sunday, February 4
Car Racing on Ice
Softball on Ice
2007 Winter Carnival Skijor Event
Winter Carnival Kid’s Activities
Puring Dog Sled Rally
Crygenice The Big Chill
Winter on the Hill
Art Treasures Hunt in the Capitol
Circus Juventus Presents – Pazzanni
Polar Bear Journey
Cryogenics – The Big Chill
Polar Bear Journey
Shakespeare’s – A Midwinter Night’s Dream
The Winter Carnival Ice Festival is ten days of fun that will keep you coming back year after year.
Further information about the events is listing on their web site.
