825 Arts presents safe, fun, and accessible online programming in our Minecraft Server! In the Summer of 2021, our interns from Hamline University created a version of the 800 block of University Avenue in Minecraft. This server features our building as it exists now and as it was in 2020, along with historic models of the neighborhood, and tons of incredible art by local youth. Our Minecraft Open Server hours feature creative play with local artists, historians, and musicians and free-build areas.
Video Tour of our Minecraft Server: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9Nlu4zF0_Q&t=86s
825 Arts is working with Bob Olsen, one of the world’s leading historians and experts on Ice Palaces, and the St. Paul Winter Carnival to host a virtual Ice Palace building contest. This year, Bob will present a brand-new lecture focusing on the use of towers in ice palaces. Past year’s videos (both lectures and judgings) can be viewed HERE. Minecraft players will learn and study about ice palaces and create their own ice dwellings in a special arctic biome we have created on our server! Bob and two community judges will tour our arctic biome and pick their favorite creations, one for participating teams, and one for individual winners! Winners will receive a certificate of achievement, as well as a gift card for $20.
When: Saturday, January 24th, 2026
Where: The 825 Arts Minecraft Server
Time: 2-5 pm (SPECIAL EXTENDED HOURS!)
Cost: $5 for online players, $10 for in person players.
Register at: https://forms.gle/JKm6J8hUHU2pjFNeA
Official Rules:
- Every contestant must register and pay a participation fee. If the participation fee will cause you financial hardship, please contact minecraft@victoriatheater.org and we can offer you a scholarship for the event. https://secure.givelively.org/donate/825-arts/minecraft-ice-palaces-competition-2026
- All participants must abide by our general server rules. Any violation of these rules will cause your disqualification and potential loss of access to the server in future events and open build hours (Link to Discord Rules)
- Intentional destruction of anything you did not build, bullying, intentionally lagging the server, or preventing others from moving freely in the server will cause disqualification and potential loss of access to the server in future events and open build hours (Link to Discord Rules)
- You have 3 hours to build your structure during the event. Your entire structure must start and finish during that time period. If you would like to practice your build beforehand, we will have open server hours on Sunday, January 16th, 2022 and Sunday, January 23rd, 2022 from 2 pm - 4 pm on both days.
- When you finish your structure, you must notify one of our coordinate takers/helpers and they will record your location for judging. If you do not do this, we may overlook your palace during the judging process. You should also create a sign with the name of your structure and your registration number to go outside of your build.
Structures will be judged by Ice Palace Historian Bob Olsen and two volunteer youth judges that are well-versed in Minecraft. We will judge your structure on the following criteria:
Creativity and Uniqueness: Your structure is unique and uses artistic creativity that sets it apart from others
Quality: The quality of the build based on the engineering and Minecraft materials and techniques.
Real-World Feasibility: Would your structure work in the real world? Do any of the elements of your build reflect traditional ice palace engineering techniques and traditions?
Clarity of Theme: Does your structure have a clear theme and does it incorporate some element of Ice Palace history that you learned from watching the lecture with Bob Olsen or your personal research?
Overall Score: The overall look, feel, and uniqueness of your structure.
The winner (team and individual) will be announced by February 6th, 2026 before the end of the Winter Carnival. The winner will receive a certificate of achievement and custom poster of their build from 825 Arts, and a gift card for $20.