Greetings!
As we move closer and closer to the people of Minnesota’s favorite
season....Winter, the staff and board of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage
Foundation are hard at work gearing up for the 122nd run of the St.
Paul Winter Carnival.
This fun-filled festival, begun in 1886, continues to bring
family friendly events and a sense of community to St Paul and the Twin City Metro area. Over the last 120+ years we hardy Minnesotans
have donned our winter gear and come out to embrace the cold and revel in the
St. Paul Winter Carnival. Whether we’re
hunting for the medallion, enjoying the parades, marveling at the beauty of the
ice sculptures or participating in the many other Winter Carnival events, we
are coming together as a community to celebrate our strength, our traditions
and our appreciation of a good Minnesota
winter.
This year we have a unique opportunity to share the legend,
history and spirit of Winter Carnival with the thousands of visitors who will
come to St. Paul
for the 2008 US Figure Skating Championship which will be held Jan. 23 –
27. This world class event will focus
international attention on our community and allow us to share the Legend of
Winter Carnival, the Royal Family and Vulcans with a wide audience.
The 2008 Winter Carnival will be centered in and around the Rice Park
area and run from Wed. Jan 23 to Sat. Feb. 2.
Our decision to refocus on Rice
Park will give visitors
and community members alike an excellent opportunity to enjoy the ice
sculptures, snow sculptures, parades, hot dish tent and the many other
activities that make St. Paul Winter Carnival a
premier festival.
This wonderful celebration would not be possible without the
tremendous support of our corporate and individual sponsors, members and
volunteers. On behalf of the staff and
board of the St. Paul Festival and Heritage Foundation I would like to say
“Thank You” for all that you do for Winter Carnival and the community. It is this generous donation of money, time
and energy that truly makes St. Paul Winter Carnival the “Coolest Celebration
on Earth”.
I look forward to seeing you as we celebrate the 2008 St.
Paul Winter Carnival!!
Sincerely,
Kathy Bjerke
Board Chair 2007 – 2009
St. Paul Festival and
Heritage Foundation
