It’s that time of year again. The time for twinkle and tinsel to be in abundance. Rice park in St. Paul is host to a beautifully lit scene. The Rice Tree Lighting will take place tomorrow, the 19th. The event begins at 3pm and goes until 10pm. The park will be lit up at 6:30 p.m., and WinterSkate will open at 7:20 p.m.
Saturday, November 19 2016
Saint Paul will officially kick off the holiday season with the grand opening of Wells Fargo WinterSkate and Rice Park powered by Xcel Energy.
Location: Rice Park
Time: 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM 109 W 4th Street , Saint Paul, Minnesota
Those who attend the free grand opening event will be the first to skate on the free, outdoor, artificially-chilled ice rink in downtown Saint Paul as well as view the 10th annual lighting of Rice Park where a 70-foot-tall, 20-foot-wide holiday tree will be lit with 15,000 LED lights. There will be musical performances, photo opportunities, fireworks and more.
Rice Park powered by Xcel Energy Stage
4-4:20 p.m. — Performance by Minnesota Dance Collaborative
4:30-6:30 p.m. — Jack the Dog from Wells Fargo for photo opportunities
4:30-6:30 p.m. — Hot Cocoa compliments of Xcel Energy
4:45-5:30 p.m. — Teddy Bear Band on Rice Park Stage
4:45-5:15 p.m. — Nordy from the Minnesota Wild for photo opportunities
5:45-6 p.m. — Winter Carnival button unveiling & performance by Winter Carnival Vulcans
6 p.m. — Saint Paul Police Drumline performance, Wells Fargo Choir performance, welcome speeches, Saint Paul Hotel “It’s a Wonderful Life” singers, Make A Wish introduction and check presentation, countdown to tree lighting by Saint Paul Police Drumline.
6:30 p.m. —Tree is lit and fireworks in the parkWells Fargo WinterSkate Rink/Landmark Plaza
3-4:45 p.m. — Reindeer and sleigh in Landmark Plaza (photo opportunity)
4:30 -7 p.m. — Stuff the stagecoach (toy donations for Salvation Army)
4:30-6:30 p.m. — Hot cocoa compliments of Wells Fargo
5:00-5:45 p.m. — Skating performances by Hastings River Blades
6:30 p.m. — Saint Paul Police Drumline performance, Wells Fargo Choir, Ordway performances, Wells Fargo WinterSkate rink ribbon cutting
7 p.m. — Saint Paul Polic Drumline performance
7-7:20 p.m. — Rink cleared
7:20-10 p.m. — Rink open for skating
Rice Park powered by Xcel Energy captures the spirit of the holiday season with a tree as tall and bright as the iconic Rockefeller Center tree in New York City. The gigantic tree in Rice Park will be lit seven days a week. Make downtown Saint Paul your family holiday destination and enjoy the beauty of Rice Park as it sparkles with thousands of twinkling lights! The festive tree will be up through January 1, 2017. The other lights will stay up and illuminate the park through the end of the Winter Carnival.
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Kristi is married with twin girls in high school. She grew up on a small dairy farm, but now lives in the southern suburbs of the Twin Cities. She enjoys finding free or thrifty things to do whether they are outings close to home or last minute adventures to far-away places.
Kristi can also be found enjoying estate sales, attempting to garden, volunteering in the wetlands or a favorite thrift store, or maybe just enjoying a good play in one of the many theatre venues in the area.
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