The St. Paul Winter Carnival selects its next Klondike Kate on Wednesday.

In the competition, contestants adopt the persona of a dance hall girl of the Gold Rush era. Emphasis is on women with figures and singing voices that can only be described as robust.

Concluding her one-year Klondike Kate reign is 34-year-old Audra Weier of Cottage Grove. Over the past year, Weier has made countless appearances in Minnesota and beyond as the carnival's ambassador.

This year's Klondike Kate Pageant will be held at the Prom Center, 484 Inwood Av. N., in Oakdale. The doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets at the door are $15 ($13 with Winter Carnival button). The winner will be announced later in the evening.

As part of the Winter Carnival, the Klondike Kate Cabaret is set for 7:30 p.m., Jan. 24 at Holiday Inn East, Interstate Hwy. 94 and McKnight Road, in St. Paul, near 3M Center.

For more information, visit www.klondikekates.org.

PAUL WALSH