Fields of slush turned to icy rivers at St. Anthony’s Central Park as residents gathered for the second annual Winterfest on March 7. Though the cold water may have penetrated their boots, it didn’t dampen their enthusiasm.
“We lucked out again!” proclaimed organizer Chad Gillard. The combination of a bright sun and a mid-afternoon temperature reading of 52 degrees brought folks out of hibernation to fly kites, hunt for medallions, play kubb, eat from a food truck and other activities.
Gillard said, “People need to get out and see their neighbors again, and this is a good way to do it.” Winterfest proceeds went to Nourish 282, which helps food-insecure families in St. Anthony. “The dollars stay in the community,” he said.
Spouse Carry
“Eukonkanto” (Finnish for “wife carrying”) is a sanctioned competition in Finland in which contestants (usually male) sprint through an obstacle course with another person on their back (usually female). It supposedly started in the late 1800s and references a robber named Herkko Rosvo-Ronkainen who carried stolen goods (and women) on his back. At the Winterfest contest, the course required runners to navigate a slalom course between traffic cones, turn around and race straight back to the start. The race on the high school football field started and ended in slush. It was sponsored by the St. Anthony Sister City program.
Although the piggyback style was most preferred in St. Anthony, in professional wife carrying competitions, the smaller person is carried upside down with her ankles crossed around the runner’s neck.
Kubb tournament
Kubb (pronounced “koob”) is also known as “Viking chess.” It originated in Sweden and is a bit like horseshoes. Contestants line up in a court and take turns tossing a wooden baton at kubbs on the opposite side of the court. Tosses must be made underhand. After all the kubbs have been knocked down, players go after the King kubb.
(See the flip book version of this story for more photos)
Below: Photos by Cynthia Sowden