Created to celebrate the beauty (and unpredictability) of Minnesota winters, this year’s Winter Carnival celebrates 125 years since its debut in 1886. Even though a grand ice palace isn’t in the plans, the carnival calendar is overflowing with events for folks to explore during its run, which officially opens Thursday and closes Feb. 6.
In honor of the big anniversary, we looked at the history of 20 carnival characters and events. Here’s what we found:
1. Klondike Kate
Then: Although there may have been a character called Klondike Kate earlier in carnival history, the inaugural competition to find the event’s first lady of sass and song was held in 1971. Carol Carney earned the honors.
Now: Minneapolis resident Anita McColley was named the 2011 Klondike Kate earlier this month, out-belting six other contestants at the Prom Center in Oakdale. You can see her Jan. 28 at the Klondike Kate Cabaret (8 p.m.; Hilton Garden Inn; $15 in advance/$20 at the door).
2. King Boreas
Then: The ruler of the Royal Family (along with Queen of the Snows), King Boreas I was crowned in 1886 at the first Winter Carnival.
Now: King Boreas 2011 will be named Jan. 27 at the Royal Coronation (8 p.m.; RiverCentre; free with Winter Carnival button).
3. Queen of the Snows
Then: Reigning over the Royal Family with her partner, King Boreas, the first Queen of the Snows also was crowned in 1886. Oddly, 1887 was without a queen, and in 1916, there were 108 queens.
Now: Along with the rest of the royals, the newest Queen of Snows will be named Jan. 27 at the Royal Coronation (8 p.m.; RiverCentre; free with Winter Carnival button). You’ll find interviews with the candidates on Page 14E.
4. Vulcanus Rex
Then: Fire King Coal — the king of fire — has been King Boreas’ nemesis since the beginning. He was later renamed Vulcanus Rex and took on a Krewe to help him battle the king.
Now: As is tradition, Vulcanus Rex and his trusty Vulcan Krewe will again overthrow King Boreas, signaling an end to winter weather and the Winter Carnival, following the Torchlight Parade on Feb. 5. Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe’s identity are kept secret until after the overthrow.
5. Grande Day Parade
Then: Created in 1886 as part of the first Winter Carnival.
Now: King Boreas and the rest of the newly crowned Royal Family lead marching bands, floats and other characters through the streets of downtown St. Paul. (2 p.m. Jan. 29; begins at Fifth and Wacouta, continues west down Fifth Street to Washington Street, then Fourth Street, ending at St. Peter Street.) This year’s special guest is Snoopy from Valleyfair.
6. Torchlight Parade
Then: Created in 1886 as part of the first Winter Carnival.
Now: Floats, music and more in a parade that ends with a mob of torch-carrying Vulcans. Grand marshal is the new U of M Gophers football coach Jerry Kill, and hometown marshal is baseball hall of famer, former Twin and St. Paul native Paul Molitor. Following the parade, watch Vulcanus Rex lead the dethroning of King Boreas and his Guard on the steps of the St. Paul Public Library, signaling the end of the carnival and the beginning of warmer weather. The evening also includes a fireworks display. (5:30 p.m. Feb. 5; begins at Fifth and Wacouta, continues west down Fifth Street to Washington Street, then Fourth Street, ending at St. Peter Street.)
7. The St. Paul Bouncing Team
Then: Members of the St. Paul Bouncing Team have been defying gravity for a long, long time. “The St. Paul Bouncing Team is loosely affiliated with the start of the St. Paul Winter Carnival, which began in 1886,” according to stpaulbouncingteam.org. At the time of the first carnival, there were multiple squads of blanket tossers that included both male and female bouncers.
Now: Exclusively all Bouncing Girls, the St. Paul team celebrates its 125th year of members tossed to heights of up to 35 feet.
8. Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt
Then: In 1952, the Pioneer Press teamed up with the St. Paul Winter Carnival to host its first treasure hunt, giving folks daily clues in their search for the coveted medallion hidden somewhere on public land in Ramsey County.
Now: This year’s hunt begins today and continues through Feb. 3 or until the medallion is found. The lucky discoverer has a chance to win up to $10,000 in prize money. Check out the Pioneer Press or twincities.com for your daily clue.
9. Winter Carnival Ice Palaces
Then: While some might argue about the number of ice palaces created during the carnival’s 125-year history, according to Pioneer Press archives, 14 have been successfully completed since 1886. Also according to archives, the inaugural ice palace was the first one ever built in this country and was St. Paul’s first skyscraper, with its central tower reaching 106 feet.
Now: The last ice palace was built in 2004 across the street from Xcel Energy Center, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors and even playing host to a winter wedding. To learn more about the history of carnival ice palaces, join historian Bob Olsen for “History on Ice — Winter Carnival Ice Palaces” on Jan. 30 (2 p.m.; St. Paul Central Library).
10. & 11. Ice and Snow Sculptures
Then: Were both part of the 1886 Winter Carnival.
Now: From a giant bust of Abraham Lincoln to a sculpture of Ben-Hur standing in his chariot to raccoons foraging through a garbage can, ice and snow sculptures have a been a staple of the carnival. If you were one of the lucky sculptors who happened upon consistently cold temps, your creations would last throughout the event. In 2008, the snow-carving competition was canceled due to lack of money, but the Vulcans came to the rescue, sponsoring the event and moving it to the State Fairgrounds (Jan. 28-30). The ice-carving competition is Jan. 27-30 in Rice Park.
12. Toboggan Slides
Then: The carnival’s toboggan slides date all the way back to the 1886 event, which featured multiple slides used by dozens of toboggan teams with hundreds of members. Over the years, the slides have been built in various neighborhoods, from in front of the State Capitol to Dayton’s Bluff.
Now: Defunct. People were clocked going as fast as 80 mph down some slides, says historian Bob Olsen, who also notes that insurance costs became too expensive for the slide and they most likely were eliminated from the carnival roster sometime in the ’60s.
“I think there was a period of time when it became more apparent that toboggan slides were a liability and that people were getting injured,” says Olsen.
The carnival has offered snow slides, including a giant one at Como Park. While the days of the giant snow slide are gone, there is open sledding this year Jan. 29 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Town and Country Club).
13. Curling
Then: Competitive events including curling have been a staple of the celebration since its birth. The first Winter Carnival Bonspiel played on eight sheets of ice in St. Paul’s Central Park, according to stpaulcurlingclub.org.
Now: Curling is still going strong with the St. Paul Mixed Curling Bonspiel (this year’s theme is “Orange”) starting Jan. 28 and continuing through Jan. 30 at the St. Paul Curling Club.
14. Beer Dabbler
Then: Debuted in 2010.
Now: The post-Grande Day Parade craft and microbrew tasting at Mears Park includes liquid treats from 50 local and regional small-batch brewers (3:30 p.m. Saturday; $35-$25; thebeerdabbler.com/ winter).
15. Hot Dish Tent
Then: The Hot Dish Tent served variations of Minnesota’s unofficial state dish starting in 2007.
Now: The yummy concept lasted only a couple of years. Even though it was popular, it proved too costly to run, says a Winter Carnival rep.
16. Winter Run
Then: Footraces have been part of the Winter Carnival since its beginning, when shorter races were preferred. In the early ’80s, the “Torturous 26” marathon was launched. It was short-lived, becoming a half-marathon by the mid-’80s.
Now: Most recently known as the Securian Frozen 5K and Half Marathon, this year’s event has been renamed the Securian Winter Run and includes a 10K race, the traditional half-marathon and a 5K. All races are Jan. 29 at Securian Center, corner of Sixth and Robert streets (9 a.m.; securian.com/ securianwinterrun).
17. Winter Carnival Talent Competition
Then: Started in 1972.
Now: The amateur talent competition is back this year with preteens, teens and adults competing for cash prizes Feb. 5 (11:30 a.m.; Landmark Center).
18. Winter Carnival Orchid Show
Then: The Marjorie McNeely Conservatory and the Orchid Society of Minnesota teamed up with the Winter Carnival to hold an orchid show starting in the mid-’90s.
Now: This year’s show includes thousands of tropical orchids from the personal collections of Orchid Society of Minnesota members; orchids from vendors in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin; and from the Conservatory’s collection (Jan. 29-30; $5 for adults, $3 for children; Marjorie McNeely Conservatory).
19. Saintly City Cat Club Championship Cat Show
Then: The nonprofit cat lovers’ club was formed in 1974.
Now: The championship cat show celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. As many as 26 feline breeds will be judged in four classes — kittens, championship, premiership and household pets at RiverCentre. (10 a.m.-5 p.m. Jan. 29, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Jan. 30; $4-$3).
20. Wells Fargo WinterSkate
Then: Since 2004.
Now: While the carnival once included ice-skating shows, these days you have to settle for some laps around the WinterSkate ice-skating rink downtown at Landmark Plaza.
Amy Carlson Gustafson can be reached at 651-228-5561.
Copyright 2011 Pioneer Press.