The St Paul Winter Carnival is the oldest city winter festival in the United States. In 1885 two journalists from the East Coast came to Minnesota in the winter and declared it "another Siberia" and uninhabitable by humans!
This raised the hackles of some hearty Minnesotans and the following winter they put on a festival celebrating all things winter. And it has happened in St Paul every year since.
There are parades, sporting events, and lots of other things, but I enjoy the ice sculptures in Rice Park the most.
Here are some of my favorites from this year.
The sunflower petals are so thin and delicate. Can't imagine how they were done without breaking.
A prayng mantis, I think. So much detail.
A look inside a snowman. Who knew?
Mad Hatter's tea party from Alice in Wonderland.
The park is especially magical at night with thousands of tiny white lights in all the trees and colored spotlights on the ice castle. The sculptures were beautiful today, though, sparkling in the sunshine.
Thanks for visiting my blog. I enjoy reading your comments and will be by to visit you in return.
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Beautiful ice sculptures - but it must be so cold for them to stay outside and not melt. I loved looking at your photos - but that is enough cold for me!!
ReplyDeleteWow Cynthia - those are amazing! It would interesting to see how they do them.
ReplyDeleteSuch talent!!!! So sad that it will melt.
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising there are so many talented ice artists.
ReplyDeleteMakes me proud to be from MN! (:
ReplyDeleteVery impressive!
ReplyDeleteColin
You got some great shots of the sculptures and you captured the park in a lovely photo. I hope you enjoyed your day. I have to get to the curling club and watch a match or two yet during the carnival if I can.
ReplyDeleteNice ice sculptures!
ReplyDeleteI don't like the cold so I tend to hibernate and work on crafts instead. How interesting to hear how your winter festival started, kind of like telling a child they can't do something so they go and prove you wrong. :-) I love the ice sculptures, the sunflowers are amazing but so are the others, that praying mantis is pretty spectacular.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely sculptures! I'm all about celebrating winter.
ReplyDeleteIce sculptures seem a funny way to convince people that the area is indeed habitable! However they are very beautiful and I would love to visit - if not settle permanently!
ReplyDeletewell those 2 journalists did the city a favour then! We have a town nearby who was voted the "ugliest regional town" - you should see it now! what a transformation! Those ice sculptures are amazing. Have a great week and thank you for stopping by my blog this week.
ReplyDeleteI am so impressed with the talent of those who made the sculptures. It really must be cold for them not to melt, amazing.
ReplyDeleteThose sculptures are fascinating. They must require such skill and vision to create something so beautiful from a block of ice
ReplyDeleteThis is so amazing art. I have seen it here too last summer! It melted away while looking at. But that is the fate of an ice sculpture I am afraid.
ReplyDeleteThe sculptures are wonderful, the people that do them are talented.
ReplyDeleteWonderful collection of photos. I love all the ice sculptures.. Have a happy week!
ReplyDeleteLove the ice sculpture, don't like the weather that's necessary to produce them. Stay warm.
ReplyDeleteIce sculptures just look so impossible! These are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you get around in the cities! That sunflower is awesome...who ever does the carving is very talented:)
ReplyDeleteI would love to see one of those ice carvings in person. Lovely pictures.
ReplyDeleteWow some great sculpture so every season has an positive aspect..
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sculptures. I really like the Mad Hatter's Tea Party from Alice in Wonderland. It would be nice to see the park with sculptures and tantw small lights. See you soon.
ReplyDeleteIt must be very cold for them not to melt. They are cleverly done. You make it sound pretty at night.
ReplyDeleteThose ice sculptures are absolutely amazing. I can't imagine the talent it takes to do that!
ReplyDeleteAmazing ice scuptures, there are some very talented people out there.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! This is just so cool! Really cool! I've always enjoyed snow or ice festivals, but haven't seen many. Looks like Minnesota is the place to go. These sculptures are really amazing!
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