Minnesota in Photos

An exploration of our state in images.

January 29, 2011

Photos: St. Paul Winter Carnival


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The St. Paul Winter Carnival is underway, featuring dozens of activities to help celebrate the cold, snow and ice of the season. MPR photographer Jeffrey Thompson captured some of the action.

Ice-sculpting competition

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St. Paul, Minn. — Chris Swarbrick, left, and Greg Schmotzer of Ice Occasions work on their entry to the ice sculpting competition during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Schmotzer is going for his fifth-straight title in the multi-block competition. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Ice competition

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St. Paul, Minn. — Paul Hughes of Eden Prairie, Minn. uses a hand chisel to form his ice sculpture during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Hughes' sculpture entitled "Guardians of the Temple," is one of six entered in the 48-hour competition. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Ice sculpture

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St. Paul, Minn. — Ice Occasions owner Chris Swarbrick examines his team's work during the ice sculpture competition in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Appreciative crowds

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St. Paul, Minn. — Crowds gathered in Rice Park to watch the ice sculpture competition during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Winter Carnival competition

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St. Paul, Minn. — Kathy Cook, left, and her "Team Jim 2" members joined 18 other teams in the snow sculpting competition at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Snow sculpture

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St. Paul, Minn. — Dusty Thune of St. Paul, Minn. uses a shovel as he forms his snow sculpture entitled "Hot Tub Time Machine" during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. The contestants begin with an eight-foot by eight-foot block of snow, and the sculptures have to be made without using power tools. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Working on a sculpture

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St. Paul, Minn. — Family members Judy Grufman, top, Kathy Cook, left, and Clare McDonough ease a block of snow down a ramp during the snow sculpting competition at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Snow plow competition

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St. Paul, Minn. — Steve Taylor, a senior at Miami University in Ohio, tests his creation in the Institute of Navigation's autonomous snowplow competition as part of the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. The competition includes six teams from across the United States, and requires contestants to remove snow over a designated path. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Torch lighting

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St. Paul, Minn. — 2009 Vulcan Krewe members Fred Edstrom, right, and Tim Shanley lit torches before the beginning of the Moon Glow Pedestrian Parade in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Winter Carnival royalty

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St. Paul, Minn. — Under the light of hot-air balloon burners, King Boreas Keith LeBlanc and his queen, Madalyn Dosch, Aurora, Queen of the Snows, led the Moon Glow Pedestrian Parade procession to the Capitol during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Friday evening crowd

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St.. Paul, Minn. — A large crowd gathered at the Capitol steps during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Dayton greets carnival royalty

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St. Paul, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton greeted members of the royal court during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. Gov. Dayton and the royal court were at the Capitol to officially kick off the 2011 carnival. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

Capitol on Friday evening

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St. Paul, Minn. — Hot-air balloon burners lit up the Capitol during the 125th St. Paul Winter Carnival in St. Paul, Minn. Friday, Jan. 28, 2011. (MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson) link to this photo

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