It’s the most wonderful time of the year—the annual Saint Paul Winter Carnival is here! This great Minnesota get-together (winter edition!) is a time-honored tradition following the centuries-old legend of King Boreas—and is arguably one of the best ways to enjoy winter in Saint Paul!

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is a century-long tradition based here in the capital city, encompassing a 10-day festival centered on the legend of the eldest King Boreas and his brothers. As “King of the Winds,” Boreas assigned each of his brothers a place in the winds: Titan was assigned the blustery North Wind, Euros reigned over the irresponsible East Wind, Zephyrusa was granted power of the bountiful West Wind, and Notos took over the balmy South Wind. Meanwhile, Boreas’ greatest enemy, Vulcanus Rex, resisted all efforts of a winter celebration. This resistance resulted in a push-back by King Boreas, creating what we now know today as the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

This year’s festivities will kick off on Thursday, Jan. 26 with the “Light Up the Park” event in Rice Park, and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 5. There are countless reasons to pay homage to this time-honored, hometown tradition