family-friendly

Winter Carnival Puzzle Contest, Presented by AARP With Puzzles by PuzzleTwist

Do you love jigsaw puzzles? Then this is the event for you! Grab your friends or come with your family for a fun and lively puzzle competition!

The Winter Carnival 2025 Event Is NOW TWO DAYS!
Our puzzle contest will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2025 AND Sunday, January 26, 2025, returning to the Union Depot in Downtown Saint Paul. The Union Depot has plenty of parking and is located on the light rail Green line for easy access. For teams visiting from out of the town, the Hyatt Place Hotel is right next door (see information below for a special Winter Carnival room rate).

Our puzzle competition is presented by AARP, with puzzles provided by . They will be supplying FOUR new puzzles, releasing two new puzzles each day of the competition! Three different 500 piece puzzles and a 1000 piece puzzle! Each contest time will feature a different puzzle with the exception of the Open 500 piece teams which will use the same puzzle as the Challenge division. The solo and family division will be using the same puzzle concurrently.

Prizes! The top teams in each category will get great prizes including gift cards from Games by James! In addition, there will be many new opportunities for every team to win many wonderful door prizes!

The popular Casual Puzzling Area is also expanding to both competition days! Leslie Mallery, organizer of the Longest Day for Alzheimer’s puzzle event, is again hosting the free casual puzzling area with games, prizes and a puzzle swap! Based on feedback from last year, we have expanded the competition to TWO days across five different contest times to allow for more participants. This year’s competition will include two 500 Piece Team Events, along with 1000 Piece Team, 500 Piece Pairs, and 500 Piece Solo (NEW!) contests.

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TO REGISTER: Click on your contest below to register on Tuesday, October 1 at 10 am CST and you’ll find your registration form. (Onsite registration will also be available as space allows.)

SATURDAY COMPETITION SCHEDULE:

9am-10:30am: 500 Piece Teams Challenge Contest – This contest is for those who want to compete with the fastest puzzlers or challenge themselves to complete the puzzle in under 90 minutes. Four person teams will have 90 minutes to assemble a new commemorative Winter Carnival PuzzleTwist puzzle. $60/team

11:15am-2:15pm: 1000 Piece Teams Contest – This contest is for anyone wishing for another challenge or wanting a longer puzzle experience. Four person teams will have 3 hours to complete a new commemorative Winter Carnival PuzzleTwist puzzle. $60/team

3pm-5pm: 500 Piece Teams Open Contest – This contest is for those who want the more traditional 2 hour time to complete the puzzle. Four person teams will assemble the same puzzle used for the Challenge division. $60/team

 

SUNDAY COMPETITION SCHEDULE:
9:30am-11:30am: Pairs 500 Piece Contest (Regular or Senior 60+) – Pair up with a pal and join us for our pairs contest. (or split your 4 person team to increase your puzzle contest fun!) This event is open to all. Two person teams will have 2 hours to complete a new commemorative Winter Carnival PuzzleTwist 500 piece puzzle. $50/pair

12:15pm-2:15pm: – Individual Solo 500 Piece Contest (Regular or Senior 60+) – *NEW for 2025!* A fun new Winter Carnival challenge! Individual puzzlers will have 2 hours to complete a new 500 piece puzzle from PuzzleTwist. The contest will be held at the same time as the Family division, using the same puzzle. $40/person

12:15pm-2:15pm: – Family Contest – This contest is for teams which include at least one member under 18 years of age. (No, you don’t have to be related, just have at least one child on your team!) Four person teams will have 2 hours to complete a 500 piece puzzle from PuzzleTwist. The contest will be held at the same time as the solo contest, using the same puzzle. $60/team

NEW 3pm-5pm:  #2 500 Piece Teams Open Contest – This contest is for those who want the more traditional 2 hour time to complete the puzzle. Four person teams will assemble the same puzzle used for the Saturday Open and Challenge divisions. $60/team

 

SIGN UP TIP!!! – You have the opportunity to sign up for as many as four contests! On Saturday, you may sign up for both the 1000 piece team and one of the 500 piece teams. But not both 500 piece teams since they will be doing the same puzzle and we want to keep slots open for as many teams as possible. YES!! You may definitely sign up for contests on BOTH Saturday AND Sunday since Sunday will be all new puzzles not seen on Saturday! You just can’t do both Family and Solo since they run at the same time.

Sign up early as this event sells out! Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 1 at 10 am CST.

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In-Person Rules & Regulations:

  • Check-in will be inside the 4th Street (North) entrance of the building (closest to the light rail.) Only one team member needs to stand in line to register.
  • Seating begins 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of the contest. No early seating will be allowed.
  • Teams get to keep the puzzle they worked on. More copies of the 2025 puzzles PLUS other puzzles from PuzzleTwist® will also be available for purchase during the event.
  • No early starts! If you open your bag and begin your puzzle before the start of the contest you will be disqualified.
  • Hands only! The use of any puzzle tools, cutting devices, flashlights or phones are prohibited.
  • Use of table risers is not permitted and is grounds for disqualification.
  • Judges will be monitoring the area and watching as teams get close to finishing. When your team is close to finishing, raise your hand and a judge will come to your table to watch you finish and record your time. If a judge is unable to get to your table when you finish please record your own time on the time card provided at your table.
  • Winners will be announced immediately following the competition.
  • There will be no refunds provided if you have to cancel your registration for some reason. You can pick up your puzzle after Winter Carnival concludes.
  • Prizes will be awarded to the top teams in all brackets.

There will be extra puzzling opportunities held to extend your puzzling fun!
Bring your gently used puzzles to exchange in the puzzle swap!
~  PLUS PuzzleTwist®  will have MANY awesome puzzles for sale!
Concessions for sale from Deb’s Hot Dogs and coffee available from Lowertown Bike & Coffee Shop. There are also several restaurants in the area including the NEW 1881 by Lake Elmo Inn located inside the Union Depot.

Presented by:

Puzzles Provided by:

 

Prizes Provided By:

 

Event Located At:

Bonus news for teams coming from out of town! The Hyatt Place Hotel right next door is setting aside a block of rooms at a discounted rate for puzzle contestants!
Online BOOKING LINK Hyatt Place St Paul- Winter Carnival Puzzle Competition, Jan 24-26, 2025

After you click the booking link and are on hotel webpage, select BOOK.

Select your Arrival Date (Jan 24 or Jan 25) and Departure Date (Jan 25 or Jan 26), then select CHECK AVAILABILITY.
Confirm the room type listed is showing the “WC Puzzle Co….” then select SELECT BOOK.
Review the room type details and select “WC Puzzle Co….” at bottom of page one more time, Select BOOK.
Follow the remaining steps to complete reservation process and receive your confirmation number.

Or By PHONE: 1-888-492-8847 (Press #1 for New Reservation)
-Hotel Name: Hyatt Place St Paul, 180 Kellogg Blvd E., St Paul, MN 55101
-Group Code: G-WCPC
-Room Rate: KING BED at $124 rate or 2 QUEEN BEDS at $129 rate
-You must provide credit card details to guarantee your reservation prior to receiving confirmation number.

 

2019 Saint Paul Winter Carnival

It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the 133rd Saint Paul Winter Carnival, the “Coolest Celebration on Earth” since 1886. The Winter Carnival continues to bring family-friendly events and community pride to Saint Paul and the Twin Cities metro area. 

  • Most events are FREE and open to the public.
  • Events primarily take place in downtown Saint Paul, in and around Kellogg Mall Park and the Landmark Center, as well as at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. 
  • Enjoy live entertainment in Kellogg Mall Park, watch ice carvers compete to create the best masterpiece, visit vendor booths, and more!
  • Enjoy hot mulled wine, beer, and other beverages at the ice bar in Kellogg Mall Park.

Individual Block Ice Carving Competition, Artisan Division

The 2024 Individual Block Ice Carving Competition, Artisan Division, starts on January 28 at 9 AM.

Each artisan team will be given 6 suspenseful hours and a couple blocks of ice to bring their frozen masterpieces to life. The Individual Block Ice Carving Competition is guided by a strict set of rules, requiring artists to utilize their best creative thinking and remain incredibly attentive to every detail. Judging immediately follows the completion of the contest.

Be sure to check out the live carvings and the completed designs, which will be on display in Rice Park for the duration of Winter Carnival (weather carnival)!

 

Multi-Block Ice Carving Competition

The 2024 Multi-Block Ice Carving Competition starts Thursday, January 25 at 7 pm and ends Saturday, January 27 at 7 pm.

Each team will be given 48 suspenseful hours and several blocks of ice to bring their frozen masterpieces to life. The Multi-Block Ice Carving Competition is guided by a strict set of rules, requiring artists to utilize their best creative thinking and remain incredibly attentive to all details. Judging immediately follows the completion of the contest.

Be sure to check out the live ice carving and the completed designs, which will be on display in Rice Park for the duration of Winter Carnival (weather permitting)!