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Ice palace, St. Paul, Minnesota

IBEW Wires Winter Festival Attraction

December 2004 IBEW Journal

At just about the point in the winter when St. Paul, Minnesota, residents are tiring of the bone-chilling bitter cold temperatures and endless snow, the city throws itself an annual party in honor of its most severe season.

The winter carnival features ice sculptures, ice-skating, bobsled rides, fireworks, parades and the mythical tale of King Boreas, who reigns over the winter paradise of Minnesota. The 112-year-old annual tradition is the oldest and largest winter festival in the nation, but only on select years does it feature an ice palace, a wintry construction of ice blocks from the clearest lakes of Minnesota. This year, it was proudly built by union trades workers, including 200 volunteers from IBEW Local 110.

"Its one of the top draws to the carnival," Local 110 Press Secretary Steve White said of the ice palace. "And the weather cooperated. It needs to stay cold because if it doesnt, the lights melt it and everyone worries its going to fall down."

The lights of the ice palace are synchronized with a multimedia show, White said. And in between the 20-minute shows was a short promo for the St. Paul Area Building Trades. "It was a good labor education for the people who visited it," White said.

Approximately one million visitors attended the 10-day carnival in late January and early February. This year the carnival also coincided with the 2004 National Hockey League All Star game.