Saint Paul, MN (September 24, 2007) Saint Paul will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland this holiday season as figurines of classic nutcrackers and gingerbread men and a giant 75-foot decorated tree dazzle visitors to Rice Park. With the backdrop of the castle-like Landmark Center and enchanting snowfalls, millions of twinkle lights will set the trees aglow, as a children's holiday train winds through the park and horses and carriages line up to give spectators rides around the downtown area. The stunning tree will be as tall as the iconic Rockefeller Center tree in New York.
The Wells Fargo WinterSkate Ice Rink will be set up at Landmark Plaza across from Rice Park from November 24 through February 3 to complete the wintry scene. To celebrate the U.S. Figure Skating Championships which will come to Saint Paul January 20-27, skating celebrities will make special appearances over Thanksgiving weekend and at various events leading up to Championships. Figure skaters from local skating clubs will also perform skating exhibitions on the rink throughout the season. Open skating, which will be free to the general public, will be featured Monday through Friday from 12-2 pm and on weekends from 11 am to 3 pm and from 5-10 pm. The rink will also be used for organized sports, skating clinics and group lessons.
Around Rice Park, Disney's High School Musical - The Ice Tour comes to Xcel Energy Center 12/14-16 and The Ordway Centre will feature The Sound of Music from 12/11-30 and A Christmas Carole Peterson 12/7-29. The Saint Paul Hotel will offer special holiday teas including a Christmas Tea incorporating performances of It's a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play which runs from December 18-23.
"Saint Paul has always been a favorite spot for visitors during the winter holidays, but this year, we will welcome thousands of additional guests and athletes for the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, and we plan to showcase our amazing winter wonderland in many special ways," said Karen Madlock, VP of Sales and Marketing.
The list of holiday special events is dizzying, but for starters, there is Festival of Trees at the Crowne Plaza St. Paul Riverfront Hotel on 11/9-10, the celebration of the Hmong New Year at RiverCentre 11/23-25 and the Skandia Festival at Landmark Center 12/9. For more of a historic perspective of the holidays, check out the Hill House Holidays at the James J. Hill House or the Ramsey House Holidays at the Alexander Ramsey House. Both historic sites are decorated to the hilt and offer tours with costumed guides depicting various holiday activities in turn-of-the-century Saint Paul.
For families with kids in tow, children's activities and exhibits will also be scattered throughout the city. Santa's Train Stop, at the Jackson Street Roundhouse near downtown Saint Paul runs weekends from December 8- 23. Children can take pictures with Santa and experience steam locomotives. Saint Paul's Children's Museum, Science Museum, History Center and Fort Snelling are always wonderful places for children and all will have themed exhibits during the holidays. Visitors can also take in the fabulous A Day in Pompeii exhibit at the Science Museum, which runs through January 8.
Shopping is first and foremost for many visitors in November and December and the city offers an array of wonderful stores and special events where visitors can browse for that unique gift. December kicks off with two terrific shopping opportunities - the Grand Meander on Saint Paul's Grand Avenue 12/1 is a holiday celebration along a collection of specialty and boutique shops located just north of downtown near the Cathedral and stately Summit Avenue. Visit the decked out one-of-a-kind shops, listen to carolers, ride trolleys and take the tots to Breakfast with Santa. That same weekend of 11/29-12/1, Landmark Center will feature its annual holiday bazaar, a must see for specialty gifts or new holiday items to spruce up your home. Don't forget your ice skates to take the family for a spin on the adjacent outdoor ice rink.
Many visitors want to plan a stop at Mall of America, the nation's largest shopping and entertainment center featuring over 500 specialty shops and dozens of restaurants, theaters, a theme park and Underwater Adventures, a 1.2 million gallon aquarium. Mall of America is located just 10 minutes from Saint Paul and is open daily.
Saint Paul also has wonderful gift shops within many of its fabulous museums, making it a great way to combine family fun and gift shopping. Check out the shops within the Minnesota History Center, the Minnesota Children's Museum, the Minnesota Museum of Art and the Science Museum of Minnesota for educational gifts for all ages.
The Twin Cities area has more theater seats per capita than any other city with the exception of New York, so it's no surprise that many visitors combine holiday shopping and outdoor activities with theatrical performances while visiting Saint Paul.
Theatrical offerings include A Christmas Carol Holiday Feast by Actors Theatre at the Harriet Island Pavilion 12/1-16, Hormel Girls at the Great American History Theatre 11/23-12/23 and Penumbra Theatre's Black Nativity 11/29 - 12/30.
To ring in the New Year in grand style, Landmark Center hosts a Five Star New Year's Celebration complete with champagne, glamour and live lounge music. Saint Paul maintains its wintry glow well after the holidays, as the city celebrates the Saint Paul Winter Carnival January 23 through February 3, 2008. Winter Carnival celebrations will also incorporate a skating theme to celebrate the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, with appearances by celebrity skaters and a special historical skating exhibit in Landmark Center. The nation's oldest winter festival features over 75 events including parades, car races on ice, marathons, pageantry and competitions. Rice Park and Landmark Plaza will be adorned with intricate ice carvings and snow sculptures, as well as the primary site of many carnival activities.
For detailed information on festivals and events as well as performance and ticket information, visit the web site at www.visitsaintpaul.com and follow the Events Calendar link or call 1-800-627-6101.
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NOTE TO MEDIA: Digital images of many festivals and attractions are available. To request a CD of images or to have a selection emailed to you, please contact Pat Laurel, Publications and Graphics Coordinator at 651-265-4921 or plaurel@visitsaintpaul.com.