St. Paul plugs in the magic on Saturday and opens the gate to the ice rink that sits in the shadow of a castle.
The grand opening ceremony for the dazzling lighted holiday trees in Rice Park and the WinterSkate rink in front of Landmark Center is from 3 to 7:30 p.m. The countdown to the tree lighting is at 6:29 p.m., with lights on at 6:30 followed by fireworks.
All of the trees in the downtown St. Paul park are bedazzled and they bring in a giant evergreen to fill out the flickering forest. This year’s holiday tree is 60 feet tall and 30 feet in diameter. It will be lit with 15,000 LED lights.
This is the 10th annual tree lighting ceremony in Rice Park. WinterSkate will be open through Feb. 11. Folks who attend are encouraged to “Stuff the Stagecoach” by donating gently-used skates that will be collected in the Wells Fargo Stagecoach for Wells Fargo WinterSkate.
Festivities include hot cocoa, the Teddy Bear Band, children’s activity tent, a reindeer and sleigh for photo ops, skating performances, the St. Paul police drumline, the Wells Fargo Choir and songs from the performers in the St. Paul Hotel’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live Radio Play.”
The St. Paul Winter Carnival Vulcans and Royal Family will be on hand for the 2018 carnival button unveiling.
For the full schedule and info on open skating throughout the season at WinterSkate, go to visitsaintpaul.com.
MORE WINTERSKATE
Across the river, the WinterSkate opened Tuesday at Loring Park. For skating info in Minneapolis, go to mplsdowntown.com/ winterskate.
Copyright 2017 Pioneer Press.
