Snow is in the forecast and we just received a great amount last night. This week marks the 102nd annual Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival. Get your cowboy hats, winter gear, cameras and attitude for fun! If you like parades, fireworks, kids being pulled by horses on skis, fiery hoops, then you need to get here! Enjoy seeing the entire community get into the celebration and activities. Where else do they close down a US Highway to put on a parade complete with 400+ tons of snow, horses, cowboys, skiers, marching band on skis and adults behaving like children? Come see why Steamboat is so special and how this event showcases our western heritage with our winter sports programs that have produced more Olympians than any other town in North America!
The fun begins next Wednesday, the 4th and continues until Sunday the 8th. The nighttime extravaganza is on Saturday night. Make sure you purchase your Buttons for $10 so you can get into all events. Proceeds benefit the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
Back in 2009, I had the pleasure of getting my picture taken with Leif Hovelsen, (son of Carl Howelsen) when he came to Steamboat and took his role as Grand Marshal in the Winter Carnival parade. He was a kind and gentle soul and would live to see our Nordic team win medals in the 2010 Olympics!
From the Steamboat Springs Chamber & Resort Association here are some fun facts:
Five Winter Carnival Fun Facts
- In past years, the penalty for being caught without a carnival button was to push a peanut down Lincoln Ave with your nose.
- The first jumping hill in Steamboat Springs was Woodchuck Hill which is currently where Colorado Mountain College stands.
- The Steamboat Springs High School Band has marched down the street on skis playing for the spectators of the Winter Carnival Parade for 71 Years. It first started in 1935 by band conductor Jerry McGuare. The Steamboat Springs High School Band was the first band ever to march on skis.
- How does all that snow get on Lincoln Avenue? Thanks to the City Public Works department who coordinates the stockpiling of snow and covers Lincoln Ave by 6am on Saturday and Sunday of event weekend each year. 400 plus tons of snow are used to cover the streets. And yes, they cover the streets and clean it up for each day of the street events. Special thanks to our Public Works Department!
- In 2012 the Steamboat Winter Carnival was named a Top 10 Winter Carnival in the World by National Geographic
Live.Play.Own.
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