After 5,588 votes were cast in an online competition, there are two new top dogs of the 2025 St. Paul Winter Carnival.
Queen Kairi and King Grover will meet their royal subjects as they walk in the King Boreas Grande Day Parade on Saturday.
A reminder that the parade will take place in a new location this year, proceeding down Grand Avenue instead of through downtown St. Paul.
The parade, which is scheduled to start at 2 p.m. and conclude by 4 p.m., will travel west on Grand Avenue from Dale Street to Lexington Avenue.
For info on parking and more, visit wintercarnival.com/event/king-boreas-grand-day-parade.
But Saturday won’t be the public’s only chance to meet the royal dogs: The St. Paul Winter Carnival royal family will crown Kairi and Grover as canine royalty during a ceremony at Union Depot’s Doggie Depot on Saturday, Feb. 1.
Queen Kairi
Queen Kairi (Pronounced Kyrie) is a 4-1/2-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier who has been a foster sister to a dozen different dogs through Save-A-Bull Rescue.
She’s named after pro wrestler Kairi Sane, known for her Pirate Princess persona.
Kairi the canine, who received 513 votes, succeeds Adonika, a Pomsky (half Pomeranian, half Siberian Husky) who served as 2024’s queen.
Kairi’s owner, Matt Guest of Minneapolis, is not a stranger to this royal contest.
Kairi, the canine Aurora, Queen of the Snows of the 2025 St. Paul Winter Carnival and Doggie Depot. (Courtesy of Tangerine House of Design)
“I have never entered my dog before,” Guest says. “However, our rescue, Save-A-Bull, has entered dogs many times before and had three winners, Dory, Yoda and Worf.”
With a background in sales, Guest has accompanied previous winners during their media appearances, promoting the rescue’s adoption and foster programs, their community services that includes free spay-and-neuter clinics as well advocacy work in general.
“I’m a person who fights for the underdog,” Guest says.
Kairi’s origin story begins as a puppy in a tomato box, where she was found with her siblings. Transported to Minnesota through Save-A-Bull, she currently leads a life of acclaim, including wearing a Halloween costume in a Target ad and now a crown for this carnival.
This model dog’s victory was assured after Guest ran a voting campaign that included a QR code and other outreach efforts, including support from other volunteers and adopters from Save-A-Bull.
Guest really does think she’ll make a perfect queen.
“She is the friendliest dog,” he says. “She’s got a belle-of-the-ball personality.”
King Grover
King Grover is a 3-year-old Goldendoodle who reportedly “loves everything” about St. Paul, including breweries, parks and baseball games. He is named after the “Sesame Street” muppet.
Lisa Fulton poses with her dog, Grover. (Courtesy of Kevin Wheeler / Lisa Fulton)
This Grover is a true king of our capital city, belonging to Lisa Fulton of St. Paul, who works for Target and is a fan of local arts and sports, including curling.
Grover, who garnered 321 votes, succeeds King Big Mac, a French Bulldog who was 2024’s king.
His win also came after a social media campaign on Facebook, where daily votes could most easily be cast via the promotion.
“I got the idea to post it on my (Highland Park) neighborhood page,” says Fulton.
It became a daily bit of fun for Fulton’s neighbors as well as her friends and family, thanks to her frequent Grover posts across the social media platform.
“I’m from Michigan, so after the Lions lost, I wrote, ‘Detroit lost, but Grover doesn’t have to, don’t forget to vote,’” Fulton says. “Another time, I posted a photo of Grover looking into Carbone’s window with the caption, ‘Grover’s looking for votes in the neighborhood.’ I just had a lot of fun with it, and here we are!”
His grandparents are sure proud.
“My parents are flying in from Michigan for the coronation,” Fulton says with a laugh.
Doggie Depot
During the parade on Saturday, King Grover and Queen Kairi will walk with Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota, Doggie Depot’s sponsor.
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At Doggie Depot at Union Depot on Feb. 1, the dog-friendly event kicks off at 9 a.m. with a dog yoga session taught by Studio 9-to-5. The doggie marketplace opens at 10 a.m., followed at 10:30 a.m. with the coronation of Kairi and Grover as the 2025 Saint Paul Winter Carnival Canine King and Queen.
Doggie Depot, which runs until 3 p.m., also includes dog-themed rescues, such as Pet Haven, a foster-based animal rescue, and dog vendors such as Must be Ruff (dog treats) and Fuzzbutt Boutique (pet accessories).
Doggie Depot is free and and will take place in the Waiting Room at Union Depot, located at 214 Fourth St. E. in the Lowertown neighborhood of St. Paul. Info at uniondepot.org/doggiedepot.
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