The St. Paul Winter Carnival is in its 130th year, and with it comes a lot of tradition: torchlight parades, Klondike Kate’s crowning, Royal Courts of King Boreas, ice sculpting, Vulcan antics and the occasional ice palace.
But after all those decades, there’s still something new for the 2016 “Coolest Celebration on Earth.”
Here are five new events at the Winter Carnival, which runs Jan. 28 to Feb. 7.
— Frozen Family Fun Night — DJ music, visits from mascots, food trucks and ice skating are on tap for fun with the kids from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 2 in St. Paul’s Rice Park.
— Fat Wednesday Fat Bike Races — Depending on the weather, the course at Keller Golf Course in Maplewood will be 1 to 2 miles. The races start at 7 p.m. and cost is $20, with proceeds going to East St. Paul Bikes, which helps get bikes for area kids.
— Doggie Depot — The Saintly City Cat Show is a fixture at the RiverCentre during the Winter Carnival, but Union Depot is going to the dogs this year. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 6, Katie K9 from myTalk 107 radio will host an event that features a Q&A and multiple rescue organizations, and an inaugural St. Paul Winter Carnival doggie royal court will be crowned. No official word on tiaras, capes or rawhide scepters for the canines.
— Frozen Film Festival — No, it’s not a continuous showing of the Disney tale of Anna and Elsa. Organizers say this festival will celebrate independent film from around the world. Screenings will be various times Feb. 4 to Feb. 6 at Landmark Center in St. Paul, with an awards ceremony at 1 p.m. Feb. 7.
— King Boreas Winter Triathlon — This run/bike/ski event will be Jan. 31 at Phalen Golf Course and park in St. Paul.
Bonus: The mini ice palace in Rice Park gets a new look this year and will be named “The Palace of the Four Winds” in honor of King Boreas’ brothers.
Music: The summer Twin Cities Jazz Festival has a one-day winter version on Jan. 31 at the Saint Paul Hotel. The ticketed event features local and nationally known musicians including Cyrus Chestnut. And the Winter Carnival Music Series will have the Belfast Cowboys, G.B. Leighton and others on stage in Rice Park on Friday through Sunday for both Winter Carnival weekends.
And what’s a special birthday year without cake? Kemps birthday-cake ice cream and karaoke will be dished out from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 6. at Rice Park.
The Winter Carnival’s unofficial kickoff took place Wednesday night with the Klondike Kate contest at the Prom Center in Oakdale, where the winner was Theresa McConnon of St. Paul.
For the latest from the St. Paul Winter Carnival, go to wintercarnival.com.
Copyright 2016 Pioneer Press.
