Seriously - The St. Paul Carnival is Worth a Winter Trip to Minnesota!
St. Paul's Annual Fest Proves Minnesota is Lively in Winter
St. Paul Winter Carnival
Jan. 25 - Feb. 2, 2013
St. Paul, MN
Jan. 25 - Feb. 2, 2013
St. Paul, MN
Experience first-hand the eclectic culture and rich history of St. Paul, Minnesota by attending the world famous St Paul Winter Carnival . Every year since 1946, the city of St. Paul turns into a festive winter wonderland dedicated to helping form a sense of community while educating and honoring the rich cultural history of Minnesota.
Event Dates and Basic Information
The St. Paul Winter Carnival takes place the last week of January. For 2013, events will kick off on January 25th with the annual Grand Parade and end with the torchlight parade on February 2. Most events during the Winter Carnival are free to attend, with an entry fees for some events like snow sculpting and ice carving
History of the St. Paul Winter Carnival
After a newspaper article published in 1885 stated that St. Paul was a place that was unfit for human habitation, the Chamber of Commerce set out to prove the reporter wrong. The Chamber of Commerce and local citizens created a festival that showed that St. Paul was an active and lively place during the winter months and that the area was, in fact, inhabitable. The festival included events in bobsledding, horse racing through the snow and other winter activities that were (and still are) popular in the St. Paul area.In 1946, the city revived the festivities as an annual tradition and every year since the city honors the traditional festival by holding parades and encouraging citizens to take part in the local winter activities.
Medallion Treasure Hunt
The local St. Paul Pioneer Press newspaper hosts a 12-day scavenger hunt as part of the Winter Carnival. Each day a clue is placed in the newspaper. The clue leads to a local park where a medallion is hidden. Whoever finds the hidden medallion wins over $10,000 in cash and prizes.The Grand Parade and the Torchlight Parade
The Grand Parade kicks off the Winter Carnival and contains many local groups and celebrities. Over a dozen school bands march in the parade along with elaborately decorated winter floats. The Torchlight Parade is at the end of the celebration and includes hundreds of individuals and groups who march down the street holding torches. This parade has served as part of the Winter Carnival since its first festival in the 1880s.
Festival Activities and Art Exhibits
Over the course of a week, there are various festival activities and art exhibits open to the public. Popular festival activities include ice and snow carvings done by local and national artists, ice horse racing, sledding, snowboarding and bobsledding. A local historical art exhibit is also open to the public and displays cultural paintings and sculptures that represent St. Paul's diverse community.You'll be able to take part in all the festivities and not miss out on a moment of the fun that is the St Paul Winter Carnival while staying in one of the many St. Paul vacation rentals in the area. Staying in a vacation rental allows you to be close to activities but have a calm, relaxing and private sanctuary to come back to after a day of fun and excitement.