The 2027 Saint Paul Winter Carnival runs Thursday, Jan 28 through Sunday, Feb 7, 2027, in Saint Paul. The organizer has not posted the 2027 schedule, prices or parade details yet, so this guide gives the confirmed dates and what past carnivals looked like. Everything below was read on the organizer’s own site or the Minnesota Historical Society’s site on 2026-10-30.
At a Glance
| Detail | What We Know |
|---|---|
| Dates | Jan 28 to Feb 7, 2027. The organizer says the carnival traditionally begins on the 4th Thursday of January. |
| Where | Saint Paul. Venues for 2027 are not yet announced – we check weekly. |
| Daily schedule | Not yet announced – we check weekly. |
| Parade dates and route | Not yet announced – we check weekly. |
| Ice carving, Medallion Hunt and other events | Not yet announced – we check weekly. |
| Prices and tickets | Not yet announced – we check weekly. |
| Getting there | Not yet announced – we check weekly. |
Past Years
The 2027 events are not posted, so here is what the organizer and the Minnesota Historical Society (MNHS) say about earlier carnivals. None of this is a promise about 2027.
How It Started: 1886
- Why: in fall 1885, Eastern newspaper correspondents visited Saint Paul and reported that Minnesota was unfit to live in. Local business owners answered with a winter festival.
- First carnival: 1886. The organizer calls it the oldest winter festival in the U.S., two years older than the Tournament of Roses.
- First ice palace: built in Central Park, where the Minnesota Armory stands now, between Cedar and Robert streets. Brothers A.J. and J.H. Hutchinson, who had designed ice palaces in Montreal, drew it up.
- By the numbers: more than 20,000 ice blocks, a cost of $5,210, and about 200 workers and volunteers who built it in three weeks. The organizer says it was one of the first buildings in the city lit by electricity.
- Parades: nine in the first carnival.
The Years It Ran
MNHS lists the carnival as held in 1886–1888, 1896, 1916–1917, 1937–1942, and every year since 1946. It says the early gaps were mostly about money.
Ice Palaces Over the Years
- 1930s and 1940s: palaces were designed by Clarence Wigington, an African American architect, according to MNHS.
- 1992: the biggest palace, built for the Super Bowl in Minnesota. MNHS says it was 200 feet wide and used 15 million pounds of ice; the organizer says it cost more than $1 million.
- 2004: the latest palace MNHS lists. Whether a palace will be built for 2027 has not been announced.
What to Do Now
- Mark the dates: Jan 28 to Feb 7, 2027 is the organizer’s confirmed range.
- Check back weekly: we re-read the organizer’s site every week and will add the schedule, parade dates and prices when they appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Saint Paul Winter Carnival in 2027?
Jan 28 to Feb 7, 2027, according to the organizer.
Where is the Saint Paul Winter Carnival held?
Saint Paul. The 2027 event locations are not yet announced.
How much does the Winter Carnival cost?
The 2027 prices are not yet announced; we check weekly.
When was the first Saint Paul Winter Carnival?
1886. The organizer says it began after Eastern newspapers called Minnesota unfit to live in.
Has the Winter Carnival been held every year?
No. MNHS lists it as held in 1886–1888, 1896, 1916–1917, 1937–1942, and every year since 1946.
Sources
- Saint Paul Festival & Heritage Foundation, Future Winter Carnival Dates, checked 2026-10-30
- Winter Carnival, Origins of the First Winter Carnival, checked 2026-10-30
- Minnesota Historical Society, Saint Paul Winter Carnival research guide, checked 2026-10-30
More Twin Cities events: see Twin Cities events, the Luminary Loppet guide and all Minnesota events. Spot a mistake? Tell us; fixes are logged on our corrections page.
Cite this page: It's Minnesota, “Saint Paul Winter Carnival 2027 Guide”, itsminnesota.com/saint-paul-winter-carnival/ (updated ). By the It's Minnesota editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.