Meet the St. Paul Winter Carnival’s ‘coy’ new Klondike Kate

Jody Vander Hart, 46, was recently chosen as the St. Paul Winter Carnival’s Klondike Kate for 2024. Eye On St. Paul recently sat down with the St. Paul native, now a Vadnais Heights mom of three sons, to learn more about her role as the in-your-face Gold Rush saloon singer of Winter Carnival lore.

This interview was edited for length.

Q: It sounds like you were born for this.

A: My maiden name was Singer, that’s right.

Q: Why did you want to be Klondike Kate?

A: I’ve wanted to be Klondike Kate since I was little. I went to Winter Carnival events and parades and I would see the ladies on the float. They were singing and having a great time.

Q: Klondike Kate has a reputation for a big personality. Is that you?

Q: So, is it more of a performance?

A: The Winter Carnival is a play. And the Kate is a character in the play. Every Klondike Kate has her own personality. Some are more in your face. Some are more coy. You spend a year developing the personality.

Q: Which are you?

A: I think I’m going to be more of the coy Kate. A little flirty Kate, not quite so in your face. But you know, we’ll see. It depends on the event.

Q: What is your favorite song to sing?

Q: Were you trained as a singer, or did you just pick this up?

A: I was in choirs, through college. Since then, I had kids, and I wasn’t really singing anything. Local karaoke every now and then.

Q: How did you find out to audition?

A: I was actually at a local karaoke one night and, after I was done singing, someone comes up and taps me on the shoulder and said, “Have you ever thought about trying out for Klondike Kate?” I said, “Of course I have. Who wouldn’t want to?” It turns out, she was a Kate. She was there that night. She was my catalyst.

Q: They name a new Kate every year. But is it true that because demand is so high, they keep a roster of former Kates busy during the Winter Carnival?

Q: So how many Kates are out there with you?

A: As the reigning Kate, I’m going to be more of the face this year. But there are about 10 to 12 active Kates currently. They will all be showing up here and there at events. We have a cabaret that’s on the 27th [of January] and there will be a whole stage of us.

Q: Where is that?

A: That’s at KJ’s Hideaway in St. Paul.

Q: Have you ever been to the Klondike?

Q: Is this Kate thing something you intend to keep doing?

A: Absolutely. We kind of have a five-year commitment that we agree to. And I plan to stay as long as they’ll let me. Once a Kate, always a Kate.

Q: How many times will you have to perform?

A: I will have 400-plus performances or appearances.

Q: Do you have to sing at every one?

Q: How do you keep your voice from shredding?

A: I haven’t had that problem yet, but tea, honey. Maybe minimizing the talking on the side.

Q: No smoking, no whisky.

A: Well, no smoking anyway. [laughs]

Q: How do you choose your wardrobe? How many different outfits do you have?

Q: What do your kids think?

A: They think it’s cool.

Q: How old are they?

A: My oldest is 21. My middle son is 17 and my youngest is 13.

Q: Do they come to performances?

Q: Where were you chosen?

A: It was a contest. This year, we had eight ladies who tried out. They were all fantastic. It was at Inwood Oaks in Oakdale. We had a panel of nine judges. They’re looking at costuming. Confidence. They’re looking for someone who can be like a hostess, bring people in.

Q: When your year is up, what do you hope to have accomplished?