
This was opening weekend of Saint Paul Winter Carnival, signaled by ice carvings in Rice Park and events throughout the city. The festival was started in 1886 in retaliation to a report by visiting journalists that Minnesota was another Siberia, unfit for human habitation. The first Saint Paul ice palace was designed in 1886 by the designer of Montreal’s ice palaces… available because of the smallpox epidemic in Montreal. It was one of the first structures in the city to have electricity for lighting!

Saint Paul Winter Carnival has been showcasing the beauty of Minnesota winters in this oldest winter festival in the US since 1886… even two years older than the Tournament of Roses Festival.
One of my favorite events is ice carving, which takes place the first weekend of the festival as artists transform blocks of ice into beautiful masterpieces following strict rules.
I loved that some of the sculptors were still hard at work when I visited today… and you could get hot cheese curds and corn dogs to munch while you watched… there was even a live band playing!

The final designs can be viewed throughout Rice Park during the 10 days of Carnival (January 26-February 5, 2023), weekdays 4-10 pm, Saturdays 10 am-10 pm and Sundays 10 am-5 pm.

Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com