The 2010 St. Paul Winter Carnival officially kicked off Thursday night with a coronation of this year’s royal family.

Arthur “Art” Blakey Jr., of St. Paul, was introduced as this year’s King Boreas. Blakey, 74, is a retired Ramsey County sheriff’s deputy and has been chief of police of the Minnesota State Fair since 1980. He’s the 74th Boreas in the history of the “Coolest Celebration on Earth.”

Gretchen Spier, of South St. Paul, was crowned this year’s Aurora, Queen of the Snows. The 33-year-old is a senior social worker for Hennepin County Human Services and Public Health Department.

More than 700 attendees came to the St. Paul RiverCentre for the annual dinner and celebration of all things Winter Carnival. They arrived dressed to impress and schmoozed with former royalty as the West Winds of the past fired gun blanks into the air and the East Winds blew their whistles.

The crowd thanked the 2009 Royal Family for their work over the past year with a standing ovation during the “Wizard of Oz”-themed festivities.

The audience cheered over music piping into the ballroom as members of 2010’s royal family were announced and took the stage. The 13 candidates for Queen of the Snows introduced themselves for the second time, and the crowd hushed as dramatic music filled the room, and four of the young women were chosen as princesses.

Dorothy’s search for Boreas ended with Blakey taking the stage, waving his golden scepter and asking for his queen. Spier was announced as the winner and waved to the cheering audience.

“The 2010 Royal Family is now complete,” it was announced before the Vulcans walked onstage, promising fiery mischief over the next 10 days.

THE ROYAL FAMILY

King Boreas Rex LXXIX (74): Arthur “Art” Blakey Jr., of St. Paul

Aurora, Queen of the Snows: Gretchen Spier, of South St. Paul

Prime Minister: Jimmy Francis, of South St. Paul

Captain of the Guard: Andrew Paul, of St. Paul

Sergeant of the Guard: Mike Morrissey, of South St. Paul

North Wind Prince: Troy Natus, of Roseville

North Wind Princess: Sara Steigauf, of Woodbury

North Wind: Mike Meents, of Inver Grove Heights

South Wind Prince: Tim Felton, of South St. Paul

South Wind Princess: Nicole Turner, of Woodbury

South Wind Guard: Damien Daley, of St. Paul

East Wind Prince: Todd Hanson, of St. Paul

East Wind Princess: Abigail Will, of New Brighton

East Wind Guard: Dave Pryor, of Eden Prairie

West Wind Prince: Dave Griep, of Inver Grove Heights

West Wind Princess: Kelly Westlund, of Roseville

West Wind Guard: Daniel Moran, of St. Paul

Klondike Kate 2010: Suzanne Leisman

Royal Coordinators: Mari and Dave Gifford

Copyright 2010 Pioneer Press.