From the traditional ice carving in Rice Park to new events like geocaching and skijoring at Lake Phalen, the St. Paul Winter Carnival has plenty of fun to lure families out for a chillin’ good time. Here are 10 recommendations:
Ice Carving: Which is more fun? Watching artists carve or viewing finished pieces under the twinkling lights of Rice Park? If you can’t decide, swing by more than once. Teams in the multiblock contest start at 9 a.m. Jan. 27 and wrap up for judging Jan. 29. The one-day single-block competition is 9 a.m.3 p.m. Jan. 30.
MoonGlow Pedestrian Parade: Of the three Winter Carnival parades, this is the one anyone can join (we hear a snow shovel drill team is in the works). Meet at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 28 just northwest of the Cathedral of St. Paul and wind your way down John Ireland Boulevard to several hot-air balloons tethered outside the State Capitol. Organizers may pass out blinky lights. They encourage walkers to bring their own illumination.
Wells Fargo WinterSkate: This is urban ice skating at its most picturesque. The chilled rink outside Landmark Center is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and until 9 p.m. Sundays (with the exception of daily corporate broomball sessions from 5 to 7 p.m. during the carnival) through Feb. 6. More information at wellsfargowinterskate.com. Skate rental $2 (free for Wells Fargo customers who show a credit/check card).
Snow Sculptures: In previous years, contestants carved giant mounds of snow into a pig on a full-sized tractor and a canoe under life-size snow evergreens. Watch this year’s teams work 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Jan. 28-29. Or stop by Jan. 30 for judging starting at 12:30 p.m. Between noon and 2 p.m. Jan. 30, the Vulcan Krewe offers free firetruck rides, a snow maze and a mini-medallion hunt.
King Boreas Grande Day Parade: Snoopy is the grand marshal at this year’s parade in honor of the king of winter, starting at 2 p.m. Jan. 29 at Fifth and Wacouta streets, traveling west to Washington Street, then to Fourth Street, ending at St. Peter Street. Hot cocoa served afterward in the lobby of the St. Paul Hotel.
Family Festival of Fun at Lake Phalen: This new event showcases winter outdoor sports. Watch Nordic ski races, speed skating, ice biking, snowshoe races and even skijoring (dogs pull skiers). Contestants will send polished wood snakes down a slippery path during “snow snake” races, and demonstrations will be offered in ski jumping, kites and youth ice fishing. Most events are from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 29.
Winter Carnival Geocaching: If finding the medallion seems like a long shot, here’s a treasure hunt where everyone’s a winner. Use your hand-held GPS receiver to track down containers hidden in parks around St. Paul. Each “cache” contains a fun fact about the Winter Carnival. Find all 10 by 5 p.m. on Feb. 5, and you can enter a drawing for a prize. Entry forms and coordinates at the carnival button sales booth in Rice Park.
Landmark Center Winter Carnival Kids Day: Stop by the ice cube castle contest at 1 p.m. Jan. 30 in Rice Park, then head indoors to Landmark Center for activities from 3 to 5 p.m., including face painting and an inflatable jump house in the atrium.
Carnival Family Day — Indoors: So, you’ve spent all week outside and want to warm up. Landmark Center has a lineup of family entertainemtn from 9 a.m.5 p.m. Feb. 5 . The fun includes interactive storytelling by the Children’s Theatre Company, Radio Disney Dancers and a local version of “Dancing With the Stars.” The finals for the Winter Carnival Talent Show will run simultaneously downstairs in F.K. Weyerhaeuser Auditorium beginning at 11:30 a.m.
Art by Kids: Art by St. Paul elementary students will be displayed throughout the carnival. 5-8 p.m. Jan. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Jan. 29-30; A-Z Gallery, 308 E Prince St.
Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade: Watch the final parade starting at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Fifth and Wacouta streets. Following the parade, the carnival closes with a massive meltdown as King Boreas is overthrown by the Vulcans on the steps of the St. Paul Central Library and fireworks explode over downtown.
Maja Beckstrom can be reached at 651-228-5295.
Copyright 2011 Pioneer Press.