The Winter Carnival’s move to Harriet Island isn’t the only feature new this year to the 120-year-old St. Paul staple.
There’s a host of new events and attractions, all designed to bring out the diehards, the curious, the outdoorsy folks and even those who just want to stay warm while enjoying winter.
“I think (the new attractions) make this more of a destination for families,” said Mary Huss, a carnival spokeswoman. “It’s not a matter of going for a walk and seeing ice sculptures anymore. Now, it’s, ‘Let’s spend the afternoon or the day at the Winter Carnival.’ There’s an atmosphere of destination, and time to spend with family and friends.”
Harriet Island: OK, so Harriet Island isn’t really an island. But who’s keeping tabs? Even though the 100-year-old park has never served as home base to the Winter Carnival before, it’s certainly no stranger to the festival – it has played host to several of the ice palaces, including the 1992 Super Ice Palace. And let’s not forget, it’s also home to other big festivals such as Rockin’ Ribfest, the Melaleuca Freedom Celebration, the Irish Fair of Minnesota and the Minnesota American Indian Festival.
Ice maze: Move over ice palace, hello ice maze. This isn’t an entirely new concept because ice mazes were created in the past, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done again. Carnival producers say they’ll build an ice labyrinth, not unlike corn mazes on farms, in the shape of a snowflake made out of 2,000 blocks of ice.
The maze will be 100 feet in diameter, with the walls of ice and snow going from 3 feet tall in the front to 8 feet tall in the back. Visitors will also find an ice throne in the center of the maze.
Winter Survivor Challenge: Outwit, outplay and outlast: Who will be the last one standing on Harriet Island? Carnival organizers and the American Red Cross will find out when they pit two people against each other “Survivor”-style. The purpose is to teach about winter survival and preparedness.
Two contestants will call the island home for eight days, sleeping in tents and surviving the cold (or lack thereof). Cheating at night won’t be allowed – there’s talk of using a live Web cam to monitor contestants.
But it’s not really as rugged as “Survivor.” The Red Cross will provide rations for the two contestants, who will also be required to compete in trivia contests for points. Whoever wins those challenges could win prizes (such as a hot shower). The last person standing – or whoever has the most points by the end of the festival – wins two tickets from Northwest Airlines to anywhere in the continental United States.
Will Steger campout and expedition launch: Arctic explorer Will Steger and his Global Warming 101 Expedition team will lead an overnight basic winter survival camp for 150 Boy Scouts – and then head out on a new winter expedition.
Steger and his crew will join four Inuit hunters on a four-month dogsled expedition across the Canadian Arctic. The team will document how the Inuits are coping with global warming. Festivalgoers can see Steger and his team off at a special send-off party.
Minnesota Hot Dish Tent: The Winter Carnival may be the “Coolest Celebration on Earth,” but that doesn’t mean it can’t pack some heat. Those looking for some relief from the cold can head here.
The tent and the adjoining Clarence W. Wigington Pavilion will be the only heated spots on the island. And true to its name, hotdish will be sold at the tent.
Jamaican Dogsled Team: No snow? No problem. The dogsled team appearing at the Winter Carnival races on dry land. The team is almost two years old, features 17 dogs in training and is led by Devon Anderson. They’ll also be featured in the upcoming documentary “Sun Dogs.” Spectators can see them during a rally on a special track, complete with bleacher seating, that is one-third of a mile long.
Copyright 2007 Pioneer Press.
