Hail the Purple! SPAAR member Ron Mikolai experienced an action-packed year as Euros, Prince of the East Wind

Hailing from the 2024 Saint Paul Winter Carnival Royal House of Dungarvin is Euros, Prince of the East Wind, who is one of King Boreas’ four brothers. Behind the legend character of Euros is Ron Mikolai, a SPAAR member and Realtor® with the Ron Mikolai Home Team of Keller Williams Premier Realty, who is wrapping up his first year of involvement with the Winter Carnival.

“It’s been a very busy year as well as one of the most rewarding years of my life,” said Ron, who didn’t know much about the Winter Carnival Royal Family prior to his role as Euros for 2024, which provided many memorable experiences. “We were just in the nationally televised Chicago Thanksgiving Day Parade and have also been in dozens of parades from Florida to Winnipeg. There have been so many appearances at schools, nursing homes and countless other festivals throughout the region.”

In fact, as Prince of the East Wind, Ron and three other princes, four princesses and the King and Queen were part of the 2024 Royal Family who made hundreds of appearances at community and volunteer events and took part in outreach opportunities throughout the year, with a purported 100 of them during Winter Carnival alone.

Also taking part in these festivities were five Royal Guards; two Royal Coordinators; the mistress of merriment known as Klondike Kate; Vulcanus Rex and the Vulcans who try to overthrow the Royal Family; and lastly, a Prime Minister who ensures everyone knows what to wear, where to go, and other important logistics.

Ron, who has been a Realtor® since 1977, will finish out his purple-wind reign with the Royal Family just prior to the Grande Day Parade, when the 2025 Euros, Prince of the East Wind, begins his year-long endeavor. Ron will, however, also be part of the Grande Day Parade.

The 2025 King Boreas Grande Day Parade will take place on Saturday, January 25, at 2pm, on Grand Avenue in St. Paul. There will be a SPAAR parade group; email spaar@spaar.com to learn more.

SPAAR wants to hear members’ Winter Carnival stories! Do YOU have a personal connection to this beloved Saint Paul tradition? SPAAR will share these stories on social media and in eNews. Share your Winter Carnival story at spaar@spaar.com.