Family Guide to the Saint Paul Winter Carnival 2025 (Jan 23 - Feb 2)

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is back with tons of free events for everyone!

The 2025 Saint Paul Winter Carnival, known as “The “Coolest Celebration on Earth,” starts Thursday, January 23rd and lasts through Sunday, February 2nd, 2025.

It’s the 139th anniversary of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the oldest winter festival in the United States! With over 50 events, including traditional favorites and exciting new attractions, there’s something for everyone, including families!

This year’s festival will take place across Saint Paul, primarily at Rice Park (renamed “Ice Park”), Landmark Center, Grand Avenue, and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Most events are FREE or low-cost, making this the ultimate family-friendly winter experience.

This year, most activities will take place in downtown Saint Paul (around Rice Park and Landmark Center), as well as at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

There are SO many events – From snow sculptures to cat shows, parades to fireworks, and even Minecraft competitions—there’s something for everyone!

And there are a TON of FREE family events (thanks to many sponsors), making me give it a high-five for frugal family-friendliness!

Here is a list of highlighted events! (Note there are many more on their website, and all are subject to change.)

2025 Saint Paul Winter Carnival Events

What’s New in 2025

This year’s festival introduces several fresh attractions to keep the whole family entertained:

“Ice Park” at Rice Park
Rice Park has been renamed “Ice Park” to highlight the incredible frozen sculptures created by professional and amateur artists. Explore a winter wonderland of icy masterpieces and family-friendly activities.
Grande Day Parade Moves to Grand Avenue
For the first time, the King Boreas Grande Day Parade will march along Grand Avenue from Dale to Lexington. Catch this exciting daytime event on Saturday, January 25, at 2:00 PM.
Winter Carnival Jigsaw Puzzle Competition Expands
Already the biggest in the country, the puzzle competition at Union Depot doubles in size, running January 25 and 26.
New Family Activities: Melanin in Motion
Join the Slow Snow Glow Bike Ride on January 25 or enjoy Walk-Up Snowboarding lessons on January 26 at this initiative by the Cultural Wellness Center to connect the BIPOC community to winter sports.
Winter Play Day at Crosby Farm
On January 25, try snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other winter sports in this event hosted by Great River Passage Conservancy and partners.
Around the World in a Day
Celebrate cultural diversity at this FREE family-friendly event featuring music, food, and traditions from around the globe. Held at Landmark Center on February 1.
Mayor’s Cup Hockey Game
Cheer for your favorite team at the first-ever Mayor’s Cup Hockey Game at Tria Rink on February 1—a thrilling preview of the 2026 International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) World Juniors Championship.

Ongoing!

Activities Galore!
From food vendors to merchandise, there will be plenty to enjoy at Rice Park, Landmark Center, and the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Rice Park Stage: Performances Daily
Enjoy a variety of musical styles on the stage in Rice Park. Check the full entertainment schedule at wintercarnival.com.

Warming House: Open Daily
Relax in the heated tent at Landmark Plaza. Warm up with craft beers, mulled wine, Bailey’s and cocoa, or the Carnival’s own Northern Soda creation. Live music and DJs will keep the vibes lively.

CynCity Walking Tours
Learn about Saint Paul’s gangsters, haunts, and history with guided walking tours. Times vary—visit cyncitytours.com for details.

ICE CASTLES!

Don’t miss Ice Castles at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds!

Save 15% with my exclusive code. More info here. (We went and loved it!)

Signature Events!

Ice Carving Competitions
Thursday, Jan. 23 – Sunday, Jan. 26
Artists will carve incredible sculptures out of 300-pound blocks of ice in Rice Park. Multi-block teams have 48 hours to create masterpieces, and Sunday features a single-block competition.

Vulcan Snow Park
Friday, Jan. 24 – Sunday, Feb. 2
Head to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds for family-friendly fun, including the Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition (Jan. 24–26). View the snow maze, sculptures, and enjoy activities all week long.

King Boreas Grande Day Parade
Saturday, Jan. 25 | 2:00 PM
Celebrate the newly crowned King Boreas and his Royal Family in this daytime parade. Route: will step off on Dale
and proceed to Lexington.

Plus, Dog Man is Celebrity Grand Marshal! “Dog Man” opens in theaters January 31. (Enter my giveaway!)

Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade
Saturday, Feb. 1 | 5:30 PM
Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe will light up the streets of downtown Saint Paul. The parade ends at Rice Park, followed by the Overthrow of Boreas ceremony and a fireworks show.

Family-Focused Calendar – Highlighted Events

Thursday, January 23rd

5:30 – 7:00 PM: Light Up The Park (Rice Park): Enjoy a laser light show and ice carving kick-off event.

Friday, January 24th

8:00 AM: Minnesota State Snow Sculpting Competition begins (Vulcan Snow Park).
5:30 PM: Royal Coronation at Saint Paul RiverCentre.

Saturday, January 25th

8:00 AM – 5:30 PM: Winter Carnival Jigsaw Puzzle Competition at Union Depot.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM: Winter Play Day
2:00 PM: King Boreas Grand Day Parade (Grand Avenue).

Sunday, January 26th

8:00 AM – 9:00 PM: Vulcan Fun Day (Vulcan Snow Park).
9:00 AM: Ice Carving Competitions (Rice Park).
9:00 AM: Saintly City Cat Show (Saint Paul RiverCentre)
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM: 50th Anniversary Winter Carnival Orchid Show
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Kids’ Snow Treasure Hunt (State Fairgrounds)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Hot & Cool Classics Concert (Landmark Center)

Monday, January 27th

1:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Ice Carvings for Kids: A cool creative collaboration between Children’s Minnesota and the Saint Paul Winter Carnival

Tuesday, January 28th

5:30 – 7:30 PM: Frozen Family Fun Night (Landmark Center): Meet Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff, and enjoy snow activities with Junior Royalty.

Friday, January 31st

Winter Carnival’s Day of Good: Community-wide events to give back, including food collections and blood drives.

Saturday, February 1st

10:00 AM – 3:00 PM: Doggie Depot at Union Depot: Vendors, adoption events, and the crowning of the Canine King & Queen.
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Around the World in a Day for Kids, Seniors & Families at the Landmark Center
5:15 PM: Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade.