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Chilly and snowy conditions provided the backdrop Saturday for an annual rite in St. Paul: the unveiling of a set of buttons for the city's Winter Carnival.

Four button designs mark the 140th anniversary of the carnival: one featuring the Capitol, another the downtown Landmark Center, a third with the 1886 Ice Palace and a fourth with blended scenes from Mickey's Dining Car, the Saint Paul Hotel and the Cathedral.

2026 St. Paul Winter Carnival buttons

Artist Randall Peterson of Forest Lake says he tried to capture the city's iconic structures and enduring traditions.

Peterson told the Winter Carnival he works in pointillism, which uses many small, distinct dots rather than lines to create images.

“The style of pointillism is a very delicate process. There is not much room for error,” Peterson said in a press release.

Buttons cost $5 each or $19 for the set. They are available 

The Winter Carnival runs from Jan. 22 to Feb. 1.

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Four button designs by artist Randall Peterson mark the 140th anniversary of the carnival.

A circular illustration of the St. Paul Landmark Center with a blue border.

Courtesy of the St. Paul Winter Carnival

A circular illustration of the Minnesota State Capitol with a purple border.

A circular illustration of the 1886 Ice Palace with a turquoise border.

A circular illustration featuring Mickey's Dining Car, the St. Paul Hotel and the Cathedral.

St. Paul Winter Carnival unveils four commemorative buttons for 2026

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