The bright and upbeat tone of live music can be heard drifting through downtown St. Paul before you even see the twinkling lights and various food stands that adorn the St. Paul Winter Carnival. Tucked at the very edge of Kellogg Park, the carnival boasted many different activities for anyone to enjoy.

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The slow sunset makes looking at the sculptures even more beautiful.

Upon entering, many people hard at work creating ice sculptures caught my eye immediately. Each worker was bundled up, carefully using various tools to carve the ice into different shapes, figures or figurines. Even with just 20 minutes of watching, I was able to see how the sculptures progressed in little ways.

Walking just past the ice sculptures, I was taken to the various food stations that stood in front of a great view of the river. I went at the perfect time, just before sunset, so I was able to sip on warm drinks while watching a spectacular view. I tried the hot chocolate, the cotton candy, and the corn dogs all while sitting in front of a blazing fire while the live music played around me. All the food was spectacular.

The only thing I’d be able to complain about would be the cold. It was just a little above zero degrees when I went, but sure enough, there were accommodations to make sure no one got too cold. If the fire didn’t seem warm enough, there was a warming hut mounted just in front of the live music stage. It gave the option to sit inside sipping various hot drinks while still watching the performances in the warmth of the hut.

There was plenty to do and plenty to eat. The problem with being out in the cold was solved and there was a great view to top it all off. However, an aspect that I found even more appealing was the people watching. Everyone was gathered together, sitting by the fire or dancing to live music. People were spreading kindness and positive vibes all around. Everyone would squish in to make room for someone around the fire and people would sit there singing. It was clear that everyone was enjoying the event and their time spent being outdoors.

This story was originally published in the January issue of The Rubicon.