Here’s your day-by-day guide to the 2024 St. Paul Winter Carnival
Snow may be lacking, but the frigid weather can only mean one thing — King Boreas has returned for this year’s St. Paul Winter Carnival.
And while the legendary ice king and Queen Aurora duel with fiery Vulcans during the 10-day festival, we get to enjoy live entertainment, ice and snow carvings, and plenty of other community events.
This year’s Winter Carnival calendar retains many of the beloved traditions and new additions from last year’s celebration, from King Boreas and Vulcanus Rex’s parades to Rondo Night and a partnership with Children’s Hospital that brings kids’ drawings to life as ice sculptures.
The main change this year is to the warming tent situation: Rather than the constellation of warming huts and chilly stages of years past, the Winter Carnival is building Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet at Rice Park, a massive heated tent that’ll be the carnival’s unofficial outdoor-ish HQ.
At the chalet tent, you can warm up inside with hot and cold drinks, games and live bands throughout the carnival. The tent is open Thursday, Jan. 25, to Sunday, Jan. 28, and again from Friday, Feb. 2, to Saturday, Feb. 3.
Plus, a couple signature events — including the puzzle competition, Day of Good and the Vulcan reveal — have switched locations for this year. These are noted below.
So without further ado, here’s our selection of Winter Carnival events to add to your calendars. Most are free, and many take place in or near Rice Park or the Landmark Center, including the historic building’s indoor cortile space.
This day-by-day guide is divided into two categories: events at specific times you should make sure to be there for, and ongoing programming or music you should try to stop by for. If you want even more, you can find the entire schedule online at wintercarnival.com/events.
THROUGHOUT THE CARNIVAL
Ice carving @ Rice Park: The multi-block ice carving competition, in which teams have 48 hours to create massive and impressively detailed masterpieces, runs from Thursday evening, Jan. 25, to Saturday evening, Jan. 27. Afterward, sculptures will be on view in Rice Park for the rest of the carnival.
Vulcan Snow Park @ State Fairgrounds: Watch some of the world’s best snow sculptors at work during the carnival’s opening weekend (Jan. 26–28) or see the finished art on display at the Fairgrounds for the rest of the carnival, weather and safety permitting. Entrance and parking are free.
THURSDAY, JAN. 25
Be There For…
Light The Park — Kickoff to Carnival @ Rice Park: Join the Royal Family and Vulcans starting at 5:30 p.m., with a laser light show at 6. If you’re one of the first 200 people there, you’ll get a free glow wand, and you can bring your own light-up items, too. Once the carnival officially gets underway, there’ll be food trucks, beverages from an ice bar and music.
FRIDAY, JAN. 26
Be There For…
Royal Coronation @ RiverCentre: King Boreas LXXXVII, Aurora, Queen of the Snows, and the full 2024 Royal Family will be crowned! Doors open at 5:30., dinner is served at 7 and the ceremony begins at 8. This is a ticketed event. For those who have not pre-registered, the carnival reserved a limited number of public tickets for sale from Jan. 10 to Jan. 24 at wintercarnival.com, but they’re expected to have sold out early. If you show up at the RiverCentre at 7:30, you might be able to snag an empty seat for the coronation ceremony only.
Stop By For…
70’s Magic Sunshine Band @ Rice Park: This local five-piece group bills itself as the “ultimate tribute to 70s AM radio,” so come dance from 7 to 10 p.m. at Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet at Rice Park.
SATURDAY, JAN. 27
Be There For…
Vulcan Reveal @ Landmark Center: Note the new location for this year’s official reveal of Vulcanus Rex LXXXVI and the 2024 Krewe: The fiery faction will reveal their identities inside Landmark Center in the central Cortile space at 10 a.m. sharp. Doors open at 9:30.
King Boreas Grande Day Parade @ West 7th Street to Rice Park: Starting at 2 p.m., the newly crowned King Boreas will lead the annual procession from the corner of W. 7th Street and N. Smith Ave. to Rice Park — same route as last year.
Cocoa at the Castle for Kids @ Landmark Center: After the parade, kids can head inside Landmark Center for a free cup of hot chocolate to warm up.
Royal Guards’ Rock the Palace @ 317 on Rice Park: Come party with the new Royal Family at this post-parade extravaganza thrown by the king’s guard members. Previously a nighttime dance fest, this year’s Rock the Palace runs from 3 to 7 p.m. and features music from Monique B & The Xperience. New location this year: the 317 on Rice Park event space, at 317 N. Washington St. All ages are welcome; adult tickets are $10 (or $5 if you have this year’s Order of the Royal Guards pin), and kids under 12 can join the fun for free.
Klondike Kate Cabaret @ kj’s hideaway: The Carnival can’t get enough Kate! The legendary songstresses are now performing a double-header — not one but two rowdy performances. The early show starts at 6 p.m. (doors at 5:30), and the late show starts at 9 (doors at 8:30). Klondike Kate events tend to sell out, so be sure to buy tickets ($25) in advance at klondikekates.org.
Stop By For…
Winter Carnival Puzzle Contest @ Union Depot: The annual jigsaw puzzle contest was already among the country’s largest and longest-running — and it’s getting bigger this year. Besides taking place in a new location at Union Depot, the contest is also offering a 1000-piece puzzle division alongside the classic 500-piece competitions. The event is fully sold-out (teams fly in from around the country, after all), but come cheer on your favorite puzzlers from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saintly City Cat Show @ RiverCentre: Familiarize yourself with the furriest and fanciest felines this side of Fairview (and the other side, too, I suppose) at the RiverCentre’s Exhibition Hall from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. Admission is $10 for adults (cheaper if you have a Carnival button) and $7 for kids and seniors.
8Foot4 @ Rice Park: High-octane dance-rock cover band 8Foot4 is taking over Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet at Rice Park from 6 to 10 p.m.
SUNDAY, JAN. 28
Be There For…
Fire and Ice Winter Run @ Minnesota State Fairgrounds: Sprint or stroll across the Fairgrounds for the annual 5K, 10K, 15K and 20K races, plus a kids’ race and the “NoK” option that requires no physical exertion whatsoever. The races kick off between 8:45 and 9:05 a.m. at the North End Events Center. Sign up online by Jan. 24. I salute you, cold-weather runners, and I cannot relate.
Stop By For…
Ice Carving Competitions @ Rice Park: Ice sculptors in two divisions — artisan and professional — will have six hours to turn a single block of ice into a masterpiece. Come watch them work, starting at 9 a.m. (Completed sculptures will be on display in Rice Park through the rest of the carnival.)
Billy Johnson @ Rice Park: Local singer-songwriter Billy Johnson will play guitar-forward covers and some original tunes from noon to 2 p.m. at Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet at Rice Park
Hot & Cool Classics Concert @ Landmark Center: The Saint Paul Civic Symphony is once again delighting us with their wintry medley of Rachmaninoff, Duke Ellington, Ruth Gipps and more, from 2 to 3 p.m. on the main-floor Cortile space. And it’s free!
TUESDAY, JAN. 30
Be There For…
Frozen Family Fun Night @ Landmark Center: The young Winter Carnival fans among us (and their parents!) can come to the Landmark Center’s Cortile for a free night of singalongs and story time with characters from “Frozen,” plus giveaways and activities with the Royal Family and Junior Royalty. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
THURSDAY, FEB. 1
Be There For…
Rondo Night @ Landmark Center: The second annual celebration of St. Paul’s historically Black Rondo neighborhood will bring together plenty of community organizations and advocates. Plus, door prizes and food from West Indies Soul.
FRIDAY, FEB. 2
Be There For…
Klondike Kate Arctic Sizzle @ Camp Bar: The Kates take the stage for a lunchtime revue from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.-ish. Hope you already have tickets; this year’s Arctic Sizzle is already sold out.
Saint Paul Bouncing Team tryouts @ Landmark Center: Bouncing Team performances are one of the oldest Winter Carnival traditions, and you can try to join the acrobatic troupe — or just stop by to Hail the Bounce — from 6 to 9 p.m. in the Cortile.
Stop By For…
Winter Carnival Day of Good @ Hallie Q Brown Community Center: The carnival’s annual community-service day returns with a food drive, blood drive and other give-back initiatives. Note the new location: This year’s Day of Good will be held at Hallie Q Brown (270 N Kent St.), a longstanding institution in the historic former Rondo neighborhood. Stop by any time throughout the day. This year’s Day of Good is supported by Treasure Island Resort & Casino.
Bomber + Tara @ Rice Park: This local duo of Robert Bomber and Tara Bixby will play classic rock, country, and pop from 4 to 6 p.m. at Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet at Rice Park.
InAFunk @ Rice Park: This 11-piece funk ensemble brought down the house last year, and they’re back at Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet from 6 to 10 p.m.
SATURDAY, FEB. 3
Be There For…
Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade @ West 7th Street to Rice Park: The fire king and his krewe will celebrate the (eventual) return of warm weather during this lit-up procession. This parade follows the same route as the Grande Day parade — from the corner of W. 7th Street and N. Smith Ave. to Rice Park — which is the same as last year, but different from pre-pandemic. Parade starts at 5:15, and stick around for the Overthrow of King Boreas.
Overthrow of King Boreas + Fireworks @ Rice Park: Speaking of the Vulcans’ victory over wintry cold, Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe will wrest control of the seasons from King Boreas on the library steps near Rice Park. The overthrow, the conclusion of the carnival legend, will happen around 7 p.m. Fireworks will follow.
Vulcan Victory Dance @ InterContinental Saint Paul Riverfront Hotel: We’ve got energy for one last party before the Winter Carnival ends, right? Dance the night away with the Vulcans, starting at 7:30 p.m., with pop and R&B music courtesy of High & Mighty. Tickets are $25 in advance at vulcanvictorydance.com.
Stop By For…
Kids and Family Day @ Landmark Center: A full day of fun for all ages is in store at Landmark Center, from kids’ dance music by DJ Ola to a craft project with local arts organization ArtStart. The event is sponsored by Securian Financial and runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Doggie Depot @ Union Depot: Dog days of winter, anyone? All things dogs will be at Union Depot, from treats to toys to adoptable pets. Plus, we’ll find out which pups are crowned Canine King & Queen. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The R Factor @ Rice Park: With full horn and rhythm sections, this big-band is coming back to the carnival. They’ll be playing from noon to 4 p.m. at Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet.
KDWB Party Zone @ Rice Park: PJ the DJ will be doing his thing in the Hamernick’s Entertainment Chalet starting at 4 p.m. The party will pause for the Torchlight Parade and overthrow of King Boreas, but it’ll roar back to life till 10 p.m.
