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Royal couple for 2017 St. Paul Winter Carnival crowned

Jason Bradshaw and Lindsey Jo Sandoval will preside over the merriment in St. Paul.

January 28, 2017 at 7:20AM

Lindsey Jo Sandoval, left, and Jason Bradshaw, center, were crowned Friday as the new royal couple for the St. Paul Winter Carnival. (Vince Tuss/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

King Boreas and Aurora, Queen of the Snows, the royal pair presiding over the 2017 St. Paul Winter Carnival, were crowned Friday night.

Jason Bradshaw and Lindsey Jo Sandoval of Minneapolis are the new royal couple, the carnival announced.

Other royalty: Steven Palacio is South Wind; Elaina Hammond of Columbia Heights is Princess of the South Wind; Jory Leksen is West Wind; Molly Reuther of Inver Grove Heights is Princess of the West Wind; Brian Laughlin is East Wind; Ellie Carter of Minneapolis is Princess of the East Wind; Erik Peterka is North Wind, and Johanna Smith of Minneapolis is Princess of the North Wind.

Romeo Perez and Ian Furu are Guardsmen. Sam Moran is Guardsman/Pillow Guard. Chris Kruse is Captain of the King's Guard, and Paul Kohler is Sergeant of the King's Guard. Heath Bartness is Prime Minister.

Previously named as Klondike Kate was Kristen Oster, of West St. Paul.

The festivities took place in RiverCentre's Grand Ballroom.

For those curious about the story behind the creation of the royal roles, the carnival offered this fanciful information:

As the "King of the Winds," Boreas assigned to each of his brothers a permanent grant of great force and power. To Titan was assigned the blustery North Wind. To Euros was granted control of the irresponsible East Wind. To Zephyrus was given custody of the bountiful West Wind. To Notos was presented the balmy but unstable South Wind.

The brothers cavorted over land and sea. Boreas, while on his extensive travels, came upon a winter paradise known as Minnesota. He paused to behold the enchanting beauty of a magnificent group of seven gently sloping hills in whose embrace nestled a beautiful city. Boreas whistled in sheer ecstasy, "Historic St. Paul and her seven hills! An ideal place. I will make St. Paul the capitol of all my domains. It will henceforth be emblazoned to the world as the winter playground of the Realm of Boreas."

Meanwhile, Vulcanus Rex, the god of Fire, and the implacable enemy of Boreas, crackled in defiant disdain. "By the great sword of Mars, I will temper the blusterings of Boreas with the heat and roar of my forces." He was tireless in his bitter resistance to all the festivities of Boreas.

Undaunted, Boreas proclaimed a celebration in the spirit of gay Carnival. "So be it!" shouted Boreas, "There will be a Carnival in old Saint Paul!" Boreas selected a Prime Minister to coordinate preparations in all the Principalities, Provinces and Royal Houses within the realm of Saint Paul.

And so, for 10 glorious days, there was Carnival and joyous celebration in St. Paul — feasting, dancing, fun and frolic reigned over by Boreas and the Queen of Snows, the fairest maiden of the realm, along with the four Winds, who were each accompanied by a lovely Princess from the realm of Boreas.

Klondike Kate, a lady of song and merriment, added her sassy but enchanting voice to the festivities by singing songs of desire and sentiment.

Senior King Winter, Queen of the Northlands, and their court contributed goodwill and wisdom, while Junior King Frost and Queen of the Snowflakes with their court add youthful exuberance to the festival.

On the final day of celebration, Vulcanus Rex and his Krewe stormed the magnificent ice castle and confronted the King's Guard. Upon the good counsel of the Queen, Boreas bade

farewell to the people of his winter capitol in the interest of peace and goodwill, and returned to dwell among the gods of Olympus.

Boreas and his court looked forward to the time when summer's warmth would once again relinquish its hold on the realm and the frosty atmosphere of winter would prevail.