The parades, the ice carvings under the twinkle lights in Rice Park, the royalty, the ice bar.
Everyone has a must-do favorite at the St. Paul Winter Carnival. You could call it a bucket list for the annual event, but in keeping with the spirit of the festival, we’re calling it the Ice Bucket List.
What should be on a person’s “Ice Bucket List”? Here’s what some Winter Carnival-lovin’ folks recommend:
“You must go see the Klondike Kate Cabaret! Of course, that is coming from a Klondike Kate!”
– Paula Berends, 2005’s Klondike Kate, who serves on the board of directors for the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation
“Well, I may be a bit partial, but the one event that ‘sparks’ everyone’s interest is the Vulcan Coming Out early Saturday morning (10 a.m. Jan. 28 on Raspberry Island).
Here’s why: Not only does the crowd get to meet the new Vulcan characters, but chances are the Royal Family is also going to show up to say hello. You need both to start carnival off right. Makes for a good story. If nothing else, you see all the characters in one public place, which rarely occurs again in such a quaint environment.”
– Lou Bruno, Sparky 11, prime minister, 2011 True Grit Krewe
“Carry a torch with the Vulcans during the Torchlight Parade. Priceless!”
– Steve Gurney, Duke of Klinker, 2009 Vulcan Krewe
“The Torchlight Parade and fireworks display!”
– Bill Burg, West Wind 1992, former board of directors and executive committee member, trail boss of the West Wind Organization
“I would have to say that spending some time in Rice Park and watching the ice carvers after stopping by the ice bar and getting a glass of wine.”
– Rob Mauzy, festival cabinet co-chair with his wife, Amy
Copyright 2012 Pioneer Press.
