08/12/2026
Where, oh where are they NOW?! Today, we feature 📣 Craig Bretoi - YOUR 1998 Baron Hot Sparkus 🔥✌️🔥!
Pre-SPARKY days, Craig's dad would share HIS stories of being a part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival (even one about riding his horse 🏇 through the lobby of the Saint Paul Hotel, or local establishments with literal "guns 🔫 a blazin'")! His mother also marched in parades with Sibley High School. These fond memories made him also want to have a shared participation! In 1983 the krewe visited Sparky's school 🏫 adding another "spark" (😏😉) to his fire 🔥. His connection with Jim Nalapinski's son, as well as later working with Mark Salmen's wife Sue would prove fate for Craig, and he was eventually selected to the '98 Krewe ✌️.
Of course, for any member of Fire and Brimstone, choosing a "favorite" memory 💭 can prove difficult, and Craig has many. That said - he reflects fondly of one specific visit during the 1️⃣0️⃣ days of Carnival. "We went to Shriner's Children's Hospital."
"Over the visit, there was one little boy immobilized in a hospital bed who was wheeled down by staff so that he could participate." Sparky continues: "my Klinker (Marty Prjevic), sat down and took off his goggles 🥽 to talk to this boy. It turned out this boy lived on the same street that Marty lived on growing up. This boy lit up when this giant man knew his neighbors, and it was then that I realized the power and magic 🪄✨️ the Vulcans have to make someone's day a little better." Of course none of them left with a dry eye 🥹.
Since his days on krewe, Spark began to travel 🛩 extensively for work and fell away from the organization for a period of time. Fast forward to 2016 when he and his bride 👰♀ began attending events again, recalling with ease how welcoming the organization, its members and family were. "It's been great to come back and begin serving our organization and the community again!"
Of course, Sparky can offer a bit of advice for new potential members to the krewe / organization, as well as what could prove to be a good reminder for "the old guys!" "The St. Paul Winter Carnival ❄️ and Vulcan 🔥✌️ organizations are a part of the fabric that makes up the city of St. Paul. That fabric weaves through generations; to participate, provides you the honor and privilege to weave YOUR thread into that fabric. Your involvement connects you to generations of people who have loved this city, the Carnival and F&B."
Sparky continues: "be curious. Talk to the people and grow your circle. Have fun, but remember to do the work. You get out what you put in. Don't forget why you wanted to be a part of this organization." And finally - "Fire & Brimstone has been here before any of us. It's bigger than any of us, but needs your help to be a worthwhile endeavor for generations that follow." 👏👏👏
Ladies and gentlemen - YOUR 1998 Baron Hot Sparkus - Craig Bretoi! 👏🔥✌️🔥👏
