The 2024 Saint Paul Winter Carnival saw success from one of our very own University of Minnesota students, Madalyn McGarry! Madalyn McGarry would be crowned South Wind Princess as part of the traditional royalty symbolic of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival.

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival is an historic event with years of tradition. This event showcases a variety of attractions, events, and entertainment celebrating the rich heritage and lore of Saint Paul. It’s also a wonderful and exciting celebration to experience with friends and family. 

The Saint Paul Winter Carnival, while a fun and exciting event to enjoy, has a rich lore and story behind why it came to be and why it became one of the founding traditions behind the city of Saint Paul. 

The legend went that long ago with Astraios, the god of Starlight, and Eos, the goddess of the Rosy Fingered moon had five sons. One of these sons, King Boreas, would travel the world and discover Minnesota, an ideal winter sanctuary. Here he would discover and name the city of Saint Paul. However, the lore goes that the god of fire, and the enemy of King Boreas, Vulcanus Rex, would seek to undo the beautiful winter of Saint Paul. Boreas, in response, would proclaim a grand celebration in the face of Vulcanus Rex and his wrath. After ten days, Vulcanus Rex would confront King Boreas in his castle. In the interest of peace, King Boreas would return to the gods of Olympus, waiting for summer’s warmth to wane and to celebrate the snow and winter again.

With this lore come a variety of other characters that add to and make up the legend of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival. In particular, King Boreas would have four princely brothers and respective princesses of the four cardinal winds. Each year, a new contender is elected to represent the royalty of the Saint Paul Carnival (and the enemies of King Boreas as well). The South Wind Princess would be claimed by UMN student Madalyn McGarry.

Madalyn McGarry is a senior at the University of Minnesota who currently studies Sociology of Law, Criminology, and Justice with a minor in Spanish. Madalyn is also enlisted with the Minnesota National Guard and contracted with the University of Minnesota’s Army Reserve Officer Training Corps program. She will commission as an army officer upon graduation and completion of her degree. She originally hails from Anchorage, Alaska and she loves spending time with her friends and family. 

The crowning of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival royalty was an amazing and thrilling experience. Guests who attended the crowning ceremony were able to participate in a dinner provided by the event and enjoy the experience and tension of who might be crowned during the ceremony. While there were many opportunities to become royalty, either winning the title of King Boreas, Queen of the Snows, one of the four princes or princesses, or royal guards, there were still many competitive contenders who vied for these titles. Many of those who participated, including Madalyn McGarry herself, spent many days and much effort volunteering and working to make this Saint Paul tradition a success.

Upon winning the title of the South Wind Princess, Madalyn McGarry will represent and participate in the festivities of the Saint Paul Winter Carnival that ensue over the next week.