St. Paul Winter Carnival - Family Fun Twin Cities

Date/Time
Date(s) - 01/22/2026 - 02/01/2026
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Location
Saint Paul Winter Carnival Multiple locations, Saint Paul, MN, 55102

Description

Fun, frosty traditions abound at the spirited and historic Saint Paul Winter Carnival, spread over 10 days in January and February! Highlights include the ice sculptures in Rice Park, Ice Castles and Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fairgrounds, signature parades and days sprinkled with free family activities – see our full schedule.

2026 St Paul Winter Carnival family events quicklist

December 26-February 21 Ice Castles | Minnesota State Fairgrounds | $
January 17 Winter Whirl | Springboard Center for the Arts | 1-4pm
January 17-18 Vulcan Snow Stomp | Minnesota State Fairgrounds
January 18 Pioneer Press Winter Carnival Treasure Hunt begins
January 22 Kickoff to Winter Carnival | Rice Park | 6-7pm
January 22-24 Rice Park Ice Carving Competition | Rice Park
January 22-February 1 Rice Park Ice Sculptures open | 10am-10pm
January 24 King Boreas Grande Day Parade | Grand Avenue | 2-3:30pm
January 25-February 1 Vulcan Snow Park open | 9am-9pm
January 25 Vulcan Fun Day | Minnesota State Fairgrounds | 10am-5pm
January 26 Ice Carving for Kids w/ Minnesota Children’s Museum | Rice Park | 1-4pm
January 27 Frozen Family Fun Night | Landmark Center | 5:30-7:30pm
January 29 Rondo Night | Landmark Center | 5:30-8:30pm
January 31 Around the World in a Day | Landmark Center | 10:30am-5pm
January 31 Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade | West 7th & Downtown | 5:15-7pm
February 28 Winter Play Day | Crosby Farm Regional Park | 10am-2pm (rescheduled from January 24)

Best things to do with families & kids at the St Paul Winter Carnival 2026

Our capital city is gearing up for one of its most treasured annual traditions – the Saint Paul Winter Carnival: January 22 – February 1, 2026 (with Ice Castles staring a couple weeks earlier and ending a couple weeks later). It’s a time of legend and lore, royalty and relics, sculptures in ice and in snow. What will this year’s carnival look like? You will be happy to learn many of our favorites are BACK! Most events are family-friendly and FREE, but if you want to purchase one of this year’s collector buttons, you can find them here. The majority of activities take place in downtown Saint Paul, near Rice Park and Landmark Center, and a few are out at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Check back as we both approach and update information on the Coolest Celebration in the Twin Cities.

December 26-February 21, 2026

Ice Castles

State Fairgrounds, 1265 Snelling Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55108
Finally! Ice Castles has partnered with the United States’ oldest winter festival! We think this is the perfect alliance because the venerable Saint Paul festival literally rose into existence with the construction of a giant ice palace in 1886, designed to attract tourists to St Paul. With the help of Ice Castles, Winter Carnival can bring back its signature palace (last seen in 2018). Thursday-Monday, 11:30am-10pm (peak) or 4-9pm (off peak). Tickets: $13-$26/door, service fees added online.

January 22-24, 2026

Ice Park – Ice Carving Competition

Rice Park, 109 4th St W, Saint Paul, MN 55102
The beloved ice carving contests begin as Saint Paul drops the “R” and Rice Park becomes Ice Park. When many of us think of the St Paul Winter Carnival, the first thing to pop into our heads is a collection of carvings done in ice. While the palace will be at the fairgrounds, the ice sculpture competition remains downtown. You can watch the ice carvers work their magic throughout the weekend (please see the link for individual competition times); or you can visit the sculptures throughout the run of the Winter Carnival in Rice Park. Mother Nature permitting, as always. Competition runs January 22, 7pm to January 24, 7pm and is free to observe.

January 23-February 1, 2026

Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fairgrounds

State Fairgrounds, 1362 Underwood Street, St. Paul, MN 55113
The wily Vulcan Krewe (nemesis of King Boreas and Aurora Queen of the Snows, and their court) play host to a number of fun winter activities based out of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds including:

WINTER CARNIVAL SNOW SCULPTURE PARK – Visitors are invited to come out to Vulcan Snow Park at the State Fairgrounds to watch sculptors at work during the first weekend. Finished sculptures are lit after dark. FREE.
SNOW MAZE – Our kids love navigating the mini snow maze. Snow Park is located in the Kidway area of the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
VULCAN FUN DAY – The Snow Park heats up with Vulcan fire truck rides and a mini snow treasure hunt for kids in addition to the other daily snowy activities. Vote for your favorite snow sculpture between 10:30am-12:30pm with awards presented at 1pm. January 25, 2026 only, FREE.

January 24, 2026

King Boreas Grande Day Parade

This annual daylight parade again runs down Grand Avenue in 2026 from Dale to Lexington. Parade kicks off at 2pm. Historical bit: King Boreas is a mythical figure, King of the Winds, dreamed up by the original organizers of the St Paul Winter Carnival. You can read more about the dramatic backstory HERE. January 24, 2026, 2-4pm.

January 31, 2026

Around the World In a Day

Landmark Center Cortile, 75 W 5th St, St Paul, MN 55102
Geared towards kids, families and seniors, the second Saturday of the St Paul Winter Carnival will offer indoor, intergenerational family fun at Landmark Center: cultural entertainment, live music, education, arts and crafts, stories and more. 10:30am-5pm, FREE.

Vulcan Torchlight Parade

Rice Park, 109 4th Street W., St. Paul, MN 55102.
After stopping by the Around the World In a Day family event, hardy folks can stick around for the Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade near Rice Park followed by fireworks. 5:15-7pm.

2026 Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt

On your marks, get set – January 18, 2026, is go time! Register by purchasing a $10 Treasure Hunt Patch here.

We’re curious to know if anyone out there has ever made a family outing out of searching for the Pioneer Press Medallion (formerly the Winter Carnival Medallion) and would LOVE to hear about your experience. Leave us a comment and tell us about your hunt.

St Paul Winter Carnival event information

Dates: Thursday, January 22 – Sunday, February 1, 2026
Cost: The St. Paul Winter Carnival mainly features free events. Ice Castles is an independent event find prices and a ticket link here.
Age recommendations: All ages and family-friendly, but dress for the weather for outdoor events.
Official Saint Paul Winter Carnival Website
Learn more about the history of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival which has been celebrated since 1886.
The Winter Carnival Legend: Who are King Boreas and Aurora Queen of the Snows, the Fire King and his Vulcan Krewe, The Order of the Royal Guard, and the Royal Order of Klondike Kates.

Free rides from MetroTransit

Get a FREE ride to Winter Carnival with MetroTransit events, January 22-31, 2026 (except 1/26). Download your FREE pass here.

FROSTY & FUN! Take a look at our Twin Cities Winter Festival Calendar for families and plan ahead to play in the elements all season long.

More information

Event link: St. Paul Winter Carnival

RETURN TO FAMILY FUN CALENDAR

Please Note: This calendar is personally curated by FamilyFunTwinCities.com to include only events we believe would be of interest to families. We attempt to include the information we find most essential as parents. We make every effort to keep up with changes. However, we have hundreds of calendar entries to manage and sometimes miss event modifications or make mistakes. We are not employed by or connected to the venues for the events we share and they will sometimes change without our knowledge. We recommend calling or checking the venue’s website to verify the information we have shared.
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