My wife thinks sixty-five is scarf weather, so it’s unlikely I’ll ever live in a place like St. Paul, Minnesota. A place where it gets so cold for so long that rather than burrow away and hide in the warm glow of their TVs – the way we do it here in Dallas – they throw on a layer, head outside and gosh darn celebrate it.
In fact, they’ve been doing it for over a century. They call it the “Coolest Celebration on Earth”: the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
For eleven bone-chilling days in late January, the Minnesota capital city of St. Paul explodes with winter merriment. Fun-loving peeps deck themselves in their best gloves, scarves and poofy hats and head out for a day of frigid festivities. It’s all free, and it’s all a lot of fun.
Carnival coordinators always look to surprise, with new entertainments every year. Here’s a small slice of what you’ll find on the 2010 St. Paul Winter Carnival calendar:
- Ice Carving – always a big deal at the carnival, since the sculptures don’t melt. The carnival holds single and multi-block sculpture contests, viewable through January 31
- Royal Coronation – lame festivals have one Queen and King, tops, but not the St. Paul Winter Carnival. They’ve got a King, Queen, Prime Minister, like a dozen princes, princesses, guards, and as many as five royal horse whisperers*
- Snow Sculpture – like the ice carving, only…
- Moon Glow Pedestrian Parade – all are welcome to join in this public parade
- Hot Air Ballooning – and lots of it, because the one thing you want to do in St. Paul in January is get higher up
- St. Paul Winter Carnival Beer Dabbler – you don’t have to worry about getting your beer cold enough at this free outdoor biergarten
- Carnival Fireworks – it’s a shame the biggest day for fireworks is in July, because they’re especially vivid against a snow-draped horizon.
- Plus: talents shows, ice skating, art shows, dog and cat shows, sports, blood drives, scavenger hunt, kids’ play, ice fishing contest, etc.
- View the full calendar.
Unless specified otherwise (and I couldn’t find one), all winter carnival events are free and take place around St. Paul, Minnesota.
The 2010 St. Paul Winter Carnival will run from January 21 – 31, 2010. You’ll want to use the calendar and Web site to find locations of specific events and plan out your day. Get more information here.
Face the frostbite yourself by traveling in to attend the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. Enjoy a central downtown location near most of the action with a stay at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul – Riverfront. The classic-contemporary feel and host of amenities give you a warm, inviting place to return to after days at the fair.
Have a great time at the 2010 St. Paul Winter Carnival!
*One of these is an embellishment, but I’ll never tell.
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On January 17th, 2010, from 2:00 to 3:00 PM, a discussion on the Winter Carnival Treasure Hunt will be held at the Central Library (90 West 4th St. in Downtown St. Paul) 4th floor Meeting Room. We will cover some of the past Treasure Hunts and discuss the coming Hunt. We invite novice and experienced treasure seekers.