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The event kicked off with a medallion hunt, featuring a $250 prize for finding the commemorative medallion. The medallion is hidden on public property in or near Paynesville and can be found without trespassing, damaging, or defacing property, according to the contest rules.

Clues about the medallion's location will be given daily, starting on Monday. The medallion must be found and turned in by 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9. It can be turned in by calling 320-260-7134 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.

Clues will be posted daily at these sponsoring businesses: A & C Farm Service, Central Minnesota Federal Credit Union, Champion Milking Systems, the city of Paynesville, Community First National Bank, Corner Drug, Corner Floral, Curves For Women, Farmers and Merchants State Bank, Gas Plus More, H & L Express, Hilltop Stop, Jimmy's Pizza, Joel's Family Foods, Kopy Shots, Paynesville Area Health Care System, Paynesville Cenex, Paynesville Press, Paynesville SuperValu, and Voss Plumbing and Heating.

Clues will also be available online at www.paynesvillearea.com.

The actual winter carnival will be held on Lake Koronis near Veteran's Memorial Park (more commonly referred to as Van's Beach) on Friday, Feb. 8, and Saturday, Feb. 9.

Buttons, costing $5, are needed for admission to the winter carnival and to claim the medallion prize. Buttons are available at the sponsoring businesses. Children under five do not need a button for admission.

A $100 drawing will be held on Saturday afternoon for button holders. The winning button number will also be posted at the sponsoring businesses after the event.

Carnival events will start on Friday night from 5 to 8 p.m. with ice skating by candlelight, a bonfire, and a human curling practice session. A skating track will be made on the ice and will be lit by candlelight. (Some ice skates will be available to borrow.) While curling involves sliding stones across the ice towards a bulls-eye, human curling involves human contestants jumping on an inner tube and trying to stop closest to the bulls-eye.

On Saturday, events start at 11 a.m. with an ice fishing contest, more ice skating, and a snow sculpture contest (conditions permitting).

A separate charge applies to the ice fishing contest, which is limited to 149 participants. Same-day registration for the ice fishing, space permitting, will cost $15 per hole.

Human curling and mini golf will start at 1 p.m. on Saturday. Four-person teams can register for the human curling for $20. Prizes will be awarded for the contest winners and for best costumes and most team spirit.

Buttons are not required for participants for the ice fishing contest or human curling.

The buttons can also be used for admission to the bantam hockey tournament at the Koronis Civic Arena this weekend. The PNLS Lakers will play Hutchinson at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning and North St. Paul at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. The tournament finals will be held on Sunday.

The Paynesville Community Club will operate a concession stand throughout the event on Lake Koronis. On Friday night, items to cook on the bonfire - hotdogs and marshmallows - will be available.

Parking for the event will be available at Veteran's Memorial Park.

The event will conclude with a deejay and karaoke at the Backstop Sports Bar from 8 p.m. to midnight on Saturday night.