A Super Time in Saint Paul

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 30, 2017

Contact:

Nick Cusick, Marketing & Media Relations Manager

P: 651.265.4907 | C: 651.341.9422 | ncusick@visitsaintpaul.com

Adam Johnson, Vice President of Marketing & Media Relations

P: 651.265.4904 | C: 651.226.5403 | ajohnson@visitsaintpaul.com

SAINT PAUL, Minn. (Nov. 30, 2017) — The City of Saint Paul and its East Metro partners are planning a wide array of brand-new Bold North events and traditional family favorites in the days leading up to the Super Bowl on Feb. 4.

Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman and Mayor-elect Melvin Carter III invite every resident and visitor to sample the weeks of winter fun and warm hospitality on display in the capital city and nearby communities. And some of the activities will continue even after the big game, running until Feb. 10.

“It is exciting to have the chance to showcase our great city on the world’s largest stage,” said Mayor-elect Melvin Carter. “Life in the Bold North is about celebrating the outdoors, and honoring our cultural heritage and traditions. We can’t wait to show off everything we love about Saint Paul during Super Bowl 52.”

In keeping with the Bold North theme, there will be lots of outdoor activities, including the popular Red Bull Crashed Ice competition, three Saint Paul Winter Carnival parades, the annual Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt and challenging fun events at CHS Field.

NEW ATTRACTIONS

Details on several events still are being finalized, but here’s a preview of some of the new attractions:

• A Family Preview Night fundraiser at the Minnesota Wild’s new TRIA Rink practice facility at Treasure Island Center.
• Saint Paul Super Slide (a giant snow slide) at CHS Field in Lowertown.
• A two-day Bold North Winter Night Market (featuring area vendors) adjacent to CHS Field.
• A Family Bowl Passport program involving several area museums and family attractions.
• Olympic Team USA Presents Winterfest at the Saint Paul Winter Carnival in Rice Park.
• Ice Sculpture Garden and live carvings throughout Winter Carnival in Rice Park.
• Barstool Ski Races and Lawn Mower Races on Ice at the Vulcan Snow Park at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

Below is a quick-hit look at several of the featured events, with ways to learn more about each one.

The most complete calendar of all activities for the coming events will be available at Visit Saint Paul, the city’s convention and visitors bureau.

And for many, the seasonal fun has already begun.

Earlier this month, public ice-skating began at both the Wells Fargo WinterSkate rink downtown and at the Guidant John Rose MN Oval in Roseville as part of OVALumination, three months of family-friendly events on grounds that feature 120 evergreens decked out with more than 200,000 multicolored lights.

At WinterSkate, open through Feb. 11, skaters can experience the unique urban setting in the heart of the city at the free rink, adjacent to the historic Landmark Center and to the light displays in Rice Park.

Details: https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/things-to-do/winter-fun/wells-fargo-winterskate/

At OVALumintion, open through Feb. 10, events include open skating for a fee, a speed-skating expo with the national women’s bandy team, a men’s bandy showcase and a Feb. 3 family skating party with a video-screen broadcast of the Minnesota Wild game with Dallas.

Details: http://www.skatetheoval.com/ovalumination

COMING EVENTS

In chronological order, here’s a preview of Saint Paul activities to look forward to:

“BOLD NORTH” FLOWER SHOW (Jan. 13-March 11)
The Como Park Zoo and Conservatory’s popular winter flower show will pay tribute to events with a Bold North color palette emphasizing purples, silvers and whites in many of its plants and flowers.

Details: http://www.comozooconservatory.org/

RED BULL CRASHED ICE (Jan. 18-20)
The Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship returns to the front steps of the Cathedral of Saint Paul for the seventh straight year. The ice cross downhill competition, which draws crowds of more than 100,000 people, features high-speed action with skaters competing in four-man heats in a race to the bottom of a long ice track filled with obstacles.

Details: https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/things-to-do/winter-fun/red-bull-crashed-ice-championship/

PIONEER PRESS TREASURE HUNT (Begins Jan. 21)
Fury Jeep presents the annual hunt, a Saint Paul tradition since 1952. Daily clues to the medallion, hidden on public land in Ramsey County, are published daily in the Pioneer Press and on TwinCities.com, the digital home of the hunt. The successful hunter could win up to $10,000.

Details: www.TwinCities.com/TreasureHunt

SAINT PAUL WINTER CARNIVAL (Jan. 25-Feb. 10)
The expanded 17-day festival includes three parades: Moon Glow Pedestrian Parade (Jan. 25), the King Boreas Grand Day Parade (Jan. 27) and the Vulcan Victory Torchlight Parade (Feb 10) – and dozens of other events such as the new Securian Kids Skyway Scamper run. Rice Park will be home base for many activities, including the new ice sculpture gardens, themed music nights presented by Pabst, UCare Jazz in the Park (Jan. 28), Frozen Family Fun Night (Jan. 30) and Olympic Team USA’s Winterfest (Feb. 3) -- a chance to interact with members of the 2018 Winter Olympics team. Other events, such as the Vulcan Snow Park, will be at the State Fairgrounds in Falcon Heights.

Details: https://www.wintercarnival.com/

WINTER FUN AT CHS FIELD (Jan. 25-Feb. 10)
Activities include the Saint Paul Super Slide, a 40-foot-long adventure that takes riders aboard a rubber sled from the top of the Securian Club down onto the field. Or try your hand at catching a rainbow trout (provided by Trout Air) at a 16-by-24-foot Ice Fishing Lake, under the pavilion on the Minnesota Lawn.

Details: https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/sb52

FAMILY BOWL PASSPORT (Jan. 25-Feb. 10) and FAMILY DAY (Feb. 3)
Families are encouraged to get out and enjoy the sights of Saint Paul this winter for a chance to win exciting prizes with the Family Bowl Passport program! Families can download and print the passport at WinterCarnival.com, then visit the participating locations during the Winter Carnival for stamps along the way. Passports submitted with 3+ stamps will be entered to win prize packages. Among the attraction highlights:

• The Minnesota Children’s Museum’s “Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, A Grr-iffic Exhibit” – showcasing the popular PBS animated version of the classic “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood” series. Opens Jan. 27.
• The Science Museum of Minnesota, meanwhile, has a timely “Sportsology” exhibit that looks at the science behind athletic endeavors and a new “Science Fusion” series that lets kids interact with scientists.

Details: https://www.smm.org/events

Other participating locations include James J. Hill House, Landmark Center, Minnesota History Center, Saint Paul Public Library, Saint Paul Winter Carnival, Vulcan Snow Park, Wells Fargo WinterSkate and YMCA Saint Paul.

Details: https://www.wintercarnival.com/get-involved/family-bowl-passport-program/

SUPER BOWL OPENING NIGHT (Jan. 29)
Xcel Energy Center hosts the official NFL event, sponsored by Gatorade, fans’ first chance to see the Super Bowl teams in Minnesota and watch media interviews with the coaches and players.

Details: https://www.nfl.com/super-bowl

FROGFEST CURLING OPEN HOUSE (Jan. 30)
The Frogtown Curling Club will be showing off its expanded club room and offering an introduction to the sport through fun activities, such as hands-on practice drills of throwing stones and sweeping, as well as curling game play. A social time follows.

Details: www.curlingatfrogtown.com

EQUITY ON ICE FUNDRAISER AT TRIA RINK (Jan. 31)
A unique event to raise funds for equitable ice access to the rink will give families a chance to skate on the Minnesota Wild’s new practice facility at Treasure Island Center. They’ll also have a chance to interact with Wild players, play fun activities and view what is believed to be the world’s largest hockey mural, created by nationally known Minnesota artist Terrence Fogarty. The event is sponsored by the Saint Paul Port Authority, the Minnesota Wild, TRIA and Treasure Island.

Details: https://www.sppa.com/ccpequityonice

BOLD NORTH WINTER NIGHT MARKET (Feb. 2-3)
Area vendors will fill more than 100 stalls at the Downtown Saint Paul Farmers’ Market, adjacent to CHS Field, to showcase their wares at a two-day nighttime event complete with music and food offerings.

Details: https://www.visitsaintpaul.com/sb52

TASTE OF THE NFL (Feb. 3)
The annual Taste of the NFL event, which aims to raise awareness of hunger and funds for food programs, will be held in the evening at RiverCentre. It features food from all cities and states with one of the 32 NFL teams.

Details: https://www.tasteofthenfl.com/

THE NIGHT BEFORE WITH DAVE MATTHEWS BAND (Feb. 3)
The popular Dave Matthews Band will headline “The Night Before” at Xcel Energy Center before Sunday’s big game. CBS Radio and On Location Experiences have teamed up to produce what they’re calling a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience.

To download images related to these events, visit this link: http://barberstock.com/collection/visitsaintpaul/november-30-press-collection

For additional image and video requests, contact Visit Saint Paul Creative Services Coordinator Emily Hendricks at ehendricks@visitsaintpaul.com or 651-265-4921.

About Visit Saint Paul:

Visit Saint Paul, formerly the Saint Paul Convention & Visitors Authority, was founded in 1927 as the Saint Paul Convention and Visitors Bureau, making it one of the oldest destination marketing organizations in the United States. The mission of the organization is to generate economic growth for Saint Paul by effectively marketing the RiverCentre campus, Saint Paul and the region as a preferred convention and tourism destination. Visit Saint Paul oversees management of the Saint Paul RiverCentre Convention Center and Legendary Roy Wilkins Auditorium. For more information go to www.visitsaintpaul.com.