Without much contortion find outrageous fortune

Near this bunkerish getaway

Look for a bird known for the word

Who hailed from this waterway

Hunt clues will be released at about midnight at TwinCities.com/treasurehunt each day of the hunt.

See the Treasure Hunt rules.

Where has the medallion been discovered in past years?

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It’s only fitting that the Winter Carnival’s 2026 Royal Family was announced on one of the coldest days we’ve seen in years.

This year’s wintertime monarchs were announced Friday night at a coronation at the RiverCentre. For the coming year, Peter Kenefick will reign as King Boreas the 89th, and Erin Gustafson will serve with him as Aurora, Queen of the Snows.

Kenefick, a financial advisor at UBS in Wayzata, also owns Emmett’s Public House and Saji-Ya on Grand Avenue. The oldest of five children in a third-generation St. Paul family, Kenefick grew up on Norfolk Avenue in Highland Park. In recent years, he spearheaded the redevelopment of the mixed-use Kenton House, which opened on Grand in 2024. He was grand marshal of the Grand Old Day parade that year and previously served as Mr. Pat in the St. Patrick’s Day parade. He currently lives in his wife’s hometown of Edina; the couple is celebrating their 46th wedding anniversary on Feb. 1, the last day of this year’s Winter Carnival.

Gustafson, who lives in Woodbury, is a marketing and strategy professional with a bachelor’s degree from the University of St. Thomas and an MBA from the University of Minnesota. She frequently volunteers with nonprofits, hosts game nights with friends, knits handmade gifts and searches for the Twin Cities’ best bookstore. As she noted in her candidate bio, she “believes that meaningful relationships and genuine connection are at the heart of effective leadership, lasting community change, and building a happy life.”

Also of note is this year’s prime minister, Tom Barrett, who previously served as Vulcanus Rex and is now known as an authority on Winter Carnival history and the curator of the historical Carnival memorabilia window display at the corner of Grand Avenue and Victoria Street.

This year’s Senior Royalty, announced on Jan. 15, includes married duo John Erb and Teri Theno-Erb as King Winter and Queen of the Northlands, respectively, and Kitty Ryan — the first and only woman Vulcan, back in 1952 — as Princess of the Four Winds.

And in true Winter Carnival tradition, Royal Family members’ sponsoring organizations become their official “Royal House.”

The 2026 Royal Family

King Boreas LXXXIX:Peter Kenefick, from the Royal House of Emmett’s Public House and Saji-Ya

Aurora, Queen of the Snows: Erin Gustafson, from the Royal House of Bernie Swafford at Edina Realty

Prime Minister: Tom Barrett, from the Royal House of Pilot Games

Titan, Prince of the North Wind: Jim Hawkins, from the Royal House of Hamernick’s Flooring Solutions

North Wind Princess: Stacy Johnson, from the Royal House of Party Time Liquor

Euros, Prince of the East Wind: Thomas Maida, from the Royal House of Marylee Maida, Queen of the Snows 1956

East Wind Princess: Natalka MacDonald, from the Royal House of Quality Insurance Service

Zephyrus, Prince of the West Wind: Tyler Fehrman, from the Royal House of Mama T’s Castle Tap & Boar’s Head Leather

West Wind Princess: Katelyn Bergstrom, from the Royal House of River Hills Automotive

Notos, Prince of the South Wind: Tim Whitacre, from the Royal House of City & County Credit Union

South Wind Princess: Christine Hanley, from the Royal House of Northern Prairie Financial

Captain of the Guard: Erin Harrington

Sergeant of the Guard and North Wind Guard: Matt McGraw

King’s Guard and East Wind Guard: Alex Jarboe

West Wind Guard: Abigail Medved

South Wind Guard: Veid Muiznieks

Royal Coordinators: Barb & John Maslowski

Royal Handler: Tina Cook

Klondike Kate: Ruby Ericson, from the Royal House of St. Croix Hospice

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Last year, country trio Rascal Flatts came roaring back to life with their first tour since 2019. Billed as an outing celebrating 25 years in the business, it was also a reunion for lead singer Gary LaVox, his second cousin (bass, vocals) Jay DeMarcus and guitarist Joe Don Rooney (guitar, vocals).

The guys had a tremendous first 15 or so years, but things started to fall apart after 2017’s relative flop “Back to Us.” In 2020, they announced they were embarking on a farewell tour that never happened due to the pandemic. Relations between the three soured in 2021 and following Rooney’s DUI arrest that September, the group quietly disbanded.

But after a few years of underwhelming solo efforts, the trio kissed and made up. Now settling into their new role as a nostalgia act, Rascal Flatts pulled in enough fans to make the 2025 tour a success and spawn a second leg that drew a crowd of about 13,000 to St. Paul’s Grand Casino Arena on Friday.

Judging by their sometimes frosty on-stage demeanor, however, it appears there may still be a few lingering grudges between them. LaVox, in particular, largely ignored his bandmates and, at times, felt like he was performing at a different concert then the rest of the guys on stage.

Now in their 50s, the three men’s vocals have largely held up, as was in evidence during audience pleasers like “Fast Cars and Freedom,” “Mayberry” and “These Days.” Early on, DeMarcus took center stage and delivered an impassioned pitch for Christianity. Rooney also shared a moment with the crowd and told them the story of how his DUI led him to a successful trip to rehab.

LeVox brought one of his openers, Lauren Alaina, to help him out on the power ballad “My Wish.” The “American Idol” vet boasts a big voice. As her own set proved, she’s also well versed at warming up crowds having toured with everyone from Carrie Underwood to Luke Bryan. (Chris Lane of “Fix” and “For Her” fame, was also on the bill.)

Later, DeMarcus performed a solo take of “Sweet Caroline” at the piano, which led into their 2004 cover of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band’s “Bless the Broken Road,” the group’s longest-running No. 1 single at five weeks. And, of course, they played their take on Tom Cochrane’s “Life Is a Highway,” which got a massive boost after it was used in the 2006 Pixar film “Cars.”

Rascal Flatts has scored more than 30 Top 10 hits, so it was a little surprising that they wrapped things up in a scant 95 minutes. Then again, Friday’s show was a reminder that much of Rascal Flatts’ output can get overly glossy and insincere, so maybe that wasn’t such a bad thing after all.

Catcher Victor Caratini and reliever Taylor Rogers each passed team physicals on Friday and were officially signed to free-agent contracts by the Twins. They join first baseman Josh Bell as the Twins’ only free agent acquisitions.

General manager Jeremy Zoll said there is still plenty of time for the team to add talent for 2026.

“I feel like we’ve made some really good headway there so far, and we’re excited to work through these next few weeks where we think there’ll be a lot of opportunities to find more ways to improve the club,” Zoll said Friday as the Twins began TwinsFest, their annual winter fan convention, at Target Field.

Caratini, 32, hit .259 with 12 home runs and a .786 OPS in 114 games with Houston last season. The veteran signed a two-year deal paying $7 million annually and will platoon behind the plate with Ryan Jeffers.

Rogers, 35, played with Cincinnati and the Chicago Cubs last season. The left-hander has a one-year deal worth $2 million. He closed 30 games and was an all-star for the Twins in 2019, and had a career-high 31 saves in 2022 with Milwaukee and San Diego.

Since then, however, he hasn’t been used in many save situations, earning just two more since 2022. Zoll said the Twins plan to use Rogers to get lefties out late in games.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Twins designated right-handed pitcher Pierson Ohl and catcher Jhonny Pereda for release or assignment.

Bell, 33, hit .237 with 22 homers and 67 RBIs in 140 games for Washington last season. He signed a one-year, $7 million deal to be the Twins’ starting first baseman on Dec. 19.

“I think we’re really excited about the deals we were able to get done so far,” Zoll said. “I think we were trying to find that right balance and opportunity, and in the case of Bell and Caratini, guys that lift the lineup and raise the floor in that regard.”

Rogers is the first outside addition to a bullpen that was decimated by a busy trade deadline last July. The Twins traded away top relievers Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Louis Varland, Caleb Thielbar, Danny Coulomb and Brock Stewart, so there are spots to be filled internally or through free agency.

Under president of baseball and business operations, the Twins have been active in the market through spring training, and Zoll said he and Falvey are confident they will add more talent before the team’s first full workout at the Hammond complex in Fort Myers, Fla., on Feb. 16.

Pitchers and catchers are scheduled to report Feb. 12.

“We’re really optimistic that we’re going to have some good chances to be opportunistic here over these next few weeks before we head down to Fort Myers to keep finding ways to supplement the club, complement it, strengthen the bullpen, and find any other creative ways to put the best team on the field for this year,” Zoll said.

Minor league invitations

The Twins announced the list of minor league prospects who have been invited to spring training, including outfielder Walker Jenkins, the fifth overall pick in the 2023 amateur draft. Shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, the 21st overall pick in 2025, also has been invited.

Jenkins worked his way from Class A to Class AAA St. Paul last season and hit .242 with five extra-base hits (two home runs) and eight RBIs in 22 games for the Saints. Culpepper started last season at high-A Cedar Rapids and moved up to Double-A Wichita, where he hit .285 with 22 home runs and 67 RBIs in 59 games.

Others in the Twins system who have been invited to camp: Trent Baker, Noah Cardenas, Kyler Fedko, Corey Lewis, Christian Macleod, Ricardo Olivar, Kala’i Rosario, Aaron Sabato, Tanner Schobel and Pat Winkel.

Briefly

The Twins’ first spring training game is scheduled for Feb. 20 against the University of Minnesota at Hammond Stadium.