Saint Paul Winter Carnival 1939

Illustration of man wearing crown on an orange circular background.  Blue border around edge of button with white text.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is a festival held in Saint Paul, Minnesota every January. The event began in 1885 when a New York reporter wrote a comment regarding the miserable winters and how uninhabitable it is for residents during that time. This comment offended the resident of Saint Paul who decided to throw a carnival in order to prove the reporter wrong. The Carnival became a recurring event and was held every few years between 1886 and 1941 until 1942, when the carnival became permanent. Events include snow and ice sculpting, art exhibits, puzzle contests, dogsled races, and parades, among other events. There is also a coronation ceremony during which a Royal Family is selected through their fraternal organizations.