The People’s Ice Palace started to live up to its name after the plan was unveiled in the early afternoon. By 5 p.m. Thursday, the Winter Carnival website had received $10,000 in donations, said Deb Schaber, CEO of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation, which runs the Winter Carnival. By noon Friday, the tally was at $15,000.
The public can sponsor ice blocks, with a minimum donation of $25. Most of the blocks purchased are in the $25, $50 or $100 range, Schaber said, but there have been a couple of $500 and $1,000 blocks.
“Buying a block in the first 24 hours has raised close to $15,000,” Schaber said. “We are confident that this momentum will continue to bring this project to 100 percent commitment in pledges and donations. We love the community support and excitement.”
Schaber shared some of the comments accompanying the donations:
- “For our 10 Grandchildren to grow up seeing the Ice Castle like we did!! :)”
- “The Winter Carnival was a part of our evening the night we became engaged and warms our hearts every year.”
- “Donating because the Winter Carnival NEEDS an ice palace especially when the Super Bowl is in town.”
- “I have been interested in the winter carnival since a child. I am now 65 years old.”
Ice block sponsorships are available at wintercarnival.com.
Construction on the People’s Ice Palace is expected to start Jan. 6. The ice will be harvested from Green Lake near Spicer, Minn., starting Jan. 3. The 4,000 blocks for the construction weigh 500 pounds each and will be hauled to St. Paul on flatbed trucks.
The 2018 St. Paul Winter Carnival has been extended an extra week (Jan. 25-Feb. 10) to overlap with Super Bowl LII, which will be Feb. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Copyright 2017 Pioneer Press.
