After six years at the head of the sled that is the St. Paul Winter Carnival, Beth Pinkney is packing up her parka. Sunday, Feb. 3, is the final day of the 11-day festival.
Pinkney, president and chief executive of the event, is leaving in the spring to run the 2015 Summer National Senior Games, which will draw more than 13,000 athletes 50 and older to St. Paul, Minneapolis and Bloomington. Before her stint with the Winter Carnival, she was championship director for the U.S. Golf Association’s 2008 Women’s Open at Interlachen Country Club in Edina.
The Hoyt Lakes, Minn., native and University of Minnesota graduate who lives in Woodbury says she’s been “very blessed to be able to do what I do.”
Bob Hughes, board chairman for the St. Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation, which runs the Winter Carnival, said Pinkney quickly gained the respect and trust of the organization when she came on board in October 2008.
“She’s a special, nurturing, loving individual,” Hughes said.
Pinkney credited the Winter Carnival staff and volunteers: “Winter Carnival people are helpful and passionate — just a wonderful group of people. It was easy to get on board.”
As Pinkney wraps up her sixth of the 127 St. Paul Winter Carnivals, she sat down to talk about her time with the “Coolest Celebration on Earth.”
Q: What was the coldest Winter Carnival during your tenure?
A: 2009 — We had to shorten the Securian Winter Run and take extra precautions for our guests.
Q: Any tips for staying warm?
A: Layers, layers and more layers. Fashion isn’t a statement when you need to stay warm.
Q: You are credited with starting a meeting for all the volunteers before the Winter Carnival to talk about insurance, security and other items they need to know. What other things did you bring to the Winter Carnival?
A: I just jumped on the coattails of all of the great volunteers, and we implemented live entertainment in Rice Park, an ice bar with local flavors and just the idea to bring events outside. Let’s embrace winter.
Q: What’s your favorite Winter Carnival character or part of the legend?
A: I enjoy the entire legend, and every character has their special part to make the legend what it is.
Q: Will we ever see a Queen Boreas?
A: The legend has been strong for 127 years. I don’t see a change in the future of King Boreas or the Queen of the Snows.
Q: What’s the most frequent question you get about the Winter Carnival?
A: When will we have the next ice palace? It definitely is on the minds of many and it will take a four- to five-year strategic plan to make the next happen. It will happen — I just don’t know when.
Q: What’s the first thing you did every year after the festival wrapped up?
A: Set up recap meetings with our volunteers, operations, city of St. Paul and our sponsors … and then start planning for the next year.
Q: Was there anything about the Winter Carnival you didn’t expect when you took the job?
A: I was surprised by the stories and passion the people had for this great event and the great city of St. Paul. It is always fun to hear about the engagements, the family traditions and, most of all, the spirit of the Carnival and how it means so much to so many.
Q: What’s the biggest misconception people have about the Winter Carnival?
A: It’s cold. It’s a great festival with many things to do to keep you moving and warm!
Q: Where will you be in late January 2014?
A: (Smiles.) Watching all of the great work the SPFHF and Rosanne Bump, incoming CEO, have done with the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Q: Is there anything that always makes you laugh during the Winter Carnival?
A: Every time the bouncing team bounces someone from the public. The faces the people make are priceless.
Q: The Senior Games gig will end after the event in 2015. Any plans for then?
A: I hope to be able to have the opportunity to work in the metro area. No immediate plans now, just one year at a time.
Copyright 2013 Pioneer Press.