St. Paul arts organization builds virtual Winter Carnival ice castles in Minecraft

If it’s a bit too cold to enjoy the Winter Carnival (although it’s never too cold, just add more layers) you could consider creating your own ice castle online. 

Community arts organization 825 Arts in St. Paul will host an ice castle contest online through the video game Minecraft on Saturday, partnering with a local historian to share the history and creativity of ice sculptures at the Winter Carnival.

Minecraft was released in 2011 and created by Swedish developer Markus Persson and Mojang Studios. As of 2023, it is one of the best-selling video game titles of all time, with 300 million copies sold and nearly 170 million monthly active players.  

Its reach is also growing as a virtual social gathering space.  

Inspired by a class from Hamline University that was taught within a Minecraft server during the COVID-19 pandemic, 825 Arts began a Minecraft program in 2021, where interns recreated the 800 block of University Avenue. It provided a virtual gathering place for young creative people in the neighborhood and expanded to recreations of buildings and homes in St. Paul, including a project to historically recreate a home that was removed when the interstate highway cut through the Rondo community.  

The game’s creative mode allows players to focus on building and crafting aspects of the game. That allowed 825 Arts to recreate the Victoria Theater Arts Center building and create a digital vision of what the non-profit wanted to make with the structure. 

“We started this server as a way to connect to people in our neighborhood to make sure that no matter where we were, they could come visit us at 825,” said Sara Smith, the Minecraft coordinator at 825 Arts. “Quite literally, we built a model of our building.” 

The next year, 825 Arts hosted its first Minecraft Ice Palace Competition, and partnered with local historian Bob Olsen to provide educational context on the history of ice structures and palaces in St. Paul, dating back to 1886 and the first Winter Carnival. 

“I got addicted to ice palaces when I was about 10 or 12 years old,” Olsen said. “Which is kind of the entry point for a lot of Minecraft participants. And I look at this and say, ‘What a great opportunity to spark imagination in young people to think about things in a new way.’” 

The ice palaces in St. Paul, according to Olsen, date back to an article written in 1885 by a New York correspondent that compared the city to Siberia and considered it “unfit for human habitation in winter.”  

Needless to say, St. Paul residents were not impressed with that characterization. In response, business owners and residents organized the first Winter Carnival in 1886. 

“And there was a railroad architect that knew these brothers in Montreal that built ice palaces, and he said, ‘You know those guys have been doing something in the cold for the last three years, let’s put an ice carnival together in St. Paul and use their ice palace drawing as the centerpiece for that building,” Olsen said. “So for the last however many decades and 100 years, St. Paul has been home to some of the most incredible ice structures ever produced in the Northern Hemisphere.” 

Olsen’s lectures before previous competitions range in topic, like techniques, different aspects of architecture, the history of the ice structures and inspirations. 

This year’s theme is actually inspired by past participants, as many of the competitors naturally created vast towers as part of their structures two years ago. Olsen decided to create a lesson focusing towers as an architectural feature in St. Paul buildings. 

“Let’s talk about the towers about St. Paul. I started talking about all the buildings along especially University Avenue, where people — mostly men — were putting up their businesses with these towers,” Olsen said. “What does that say about them? What is it they’re saying about their company? Trying to get the kids thinking this is an expression of something other than just the building. 

“I’m really anxious to see if they bite on that. Two years ago, they were doing it on their own, and now that I’ve illuminated it for them, will they grab onto it?” 

Once the building time is complete, Olsen, along with two other judges, will examine each entry. Winners can be judged on a number of different criteria, including form, creativity and how they used the lecture as inspiration.  

“One of the things we try to do over and over again is remind people that you only get to make art if you try. You know, if you go and you make something, anything, and that's what's happening here too, everyone is welcome. And no matter who you are, we’re going to help you figure out how to make what you want to make.” Smith said. “You're never too old, you’re never too young. You can always learn.” 

Those interested in participating in the event on Saturday from 2-5 p.m., you must register before the event and pay a registration fee of either $5 if joining from home, or $10 if you join in person. There are fee waivers and financial assistance if needed. Contact Sara at minecraft@825arts.org to learn more.

Instructions to visit the server can be found at the 825 Arts website. If you don’t have a copy of the game but want to see the structures, you can visit 825 Arts during the competition or Feb. 8 during the organizations open hours. 

• Alliance Bank Center won’t be totally unsecured after tenants are gone, officials say
• Amtrak bringing in replacement rail cars, will resume Borealis train service
• Downtown St. Paul Lunds & Byerlys closes, leaving neighborhood without grocery store
• Union leader: Return-to-work plan for state employees ignores ‘new reality’ of workplace