The quest is on for St. Paul’s next royal family as the Winter Carnival seeks princesses, queens and royal elders for the annual festival. The carnival runs from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1.
The royal family acts as ambassadors of St. Paul during the carnival and appears at about 300 events throughout the year, said Cindy Shanley, operations and volunteer director of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation.
There are plenty of carnival activities for subjects of St. Paul’s kingdom, too.
One precarnival affair is the unveiling of the Winter Carnival buttons. Mayor Chris Coleman will reveal the buttons Dec. 6 at Dixie’s on Grand. Once the secret’s out, free firetruck rides will be offered to the public, and the Klondike Kates will sing holiday songs. The event will close with a reading of the carnival legend by 2008’s royalty.
Winter Carnival buttons will be sold for $5, or $20 for a collector’s pack, at Dixie’s, Cub Foods, Snyders, SuperAmerica and other local retailers.
Next year marks the carnival’s 123rd anniversary. It began in 1886 to celebrate St. Paul’s success as America’s fastest-growing city. The celebration will include several traditional events — such as the button unveiling, royalty coronation and St. Paul Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt — as well as new activities like a laser light show.
The carnival brings about 350,000 visitors to St. Paul each year and up to $5 million in economic activity, according to the Festival and Heritage Foundation.
Those interested in running for Queen of the Snows can apply at winter-carnival.com or by contacting Shanley at cshanley@winter-carnival.com by Nov. 30.
Seniors ages 55 and older who live in Ramsey, Hennepin, Washington or Dakota counties and want to be one of six members of senior royalty should contact Mary Livingston at 651-266-6447 or mary.livingston@ci.stpaul. mn.us by Dec. 26.
- Royal coronation sponsored by Xcel Energy: St. Paul RiverCentre; Jan. 22; social at 6 p.m., with program at 8 p.m.
- Ice carving contest: Rice Park, downtown St. Paul; Jan. 22-25
- Snow sculpture contest: Minnesota State Fairgrounds; Jan. 23-25
- WinterSkate ice rink, sponsored by Wells Fargo: outside Landmark Center; Jan. 22-Feb. 1
- Fire & Ice Pee Wee Hockey Tournament: Minnesota State Fair Coliseum; Jan. 23-25
- Senior royalty coronation: Paul & Sheila Wellstone Center; Jan. 23; 1 to 2 p.m.
- Securian Frozen 5K and Half-Marathon: downtown St. Paul; Jan. 24; 8 a.m. registration, 9 a.m. start
- King Boreas Grande Day Parade: downtown St. Paul; Jan. 24; 2 p.m.
- Keep Moving, sponsored by KARE11: Como Park; Jan. 25
- Past Vulcans vs. past Guards hockey game: Minnesota State Fair Coliseum; Jan. 25; 7 p.m.
- Showcase Education program, sponsored by 3M in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota, featuring cryogenics demonstration and the Winter Carnival legend: Science Museum; Jan. 26-28; 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m.
- Klondike Kates Cabaret: Holiday Inn East; Jan. 24; 7:30 p.m.
- Winter Carnival memorabilia exhibit: Science Museum; Jan. 30-31
- Family Day events: Landmark Center; Jan. 30, 4-10 p.m.; Jan. 31, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Family Day “Green Events”: Lake Phalen; Jan. 31, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Feb. 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Torchlight Parade, overthrow of King Boreas and laser light show: downtown St. Paul; Jan. 31; parade, 6 p.m.; overthrow of Boreas after the parade on the steps of the St. Paul Public Library; laser light show in the sky afterward
- Vulcan Victory Dance: Crowne Plaza St. Paul-Riverfront hotel; Jan. 31; 8 p.m.
Copyright 2008 Pioneer Press.