Winter Carnival is Back in Steamboat Springs, CO Feb.3-7th

It’s time for the 97^th annual Winter Carnival and there will be no shortage of excitement. Ma, Pa and the Youngin’s, grab your cowboy hats and skiis and get ready for the next five days that are full to the brim with thrills, spills, street events (horses pulling kids on skiis!), racing, ski jumping, snowboard jams, soda pop slaloms, Olympian send off party, tubing party, pancake breakfasts and of course the Night Extravaganza with the Lighted Man.

One of the fabulous things about this carnival is that most events are designed for the spectators to become participators! See bottom of the article.

This is one of the West’s longest running winter carnivals and every year Steamboat makes it bigger and better. The festival began in 1914 as a way for the people to break up the long, cold and sometimes lengthy winters. They said good bye cold and hello fun! And the tradition of the Winter Carnival happening the second week of February every year regardless of the weather is continuing on!

Also remember to buy your $7 Winter Carnival Button that raises money for the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. These are the people that support our children in winter sports and who have helped train Steamboat’s Winter Olympians!

Winter Carnival Schedule of events you don’t want to miss!

Wednesday Feb.3^rd: The Opening Ceremonies! Behold the Winter Carnival Queen and her court of attendants of Little Princesses and Grand Marshals. Location: Olympian Hall, 5:30 pm

Thursday, Feb. 4^th: From 6:30 to 8:00 pm at Howelson Hill, see the Dual Slalom Bicycle Race, these guys just can’t stay on their bikes, Ski Jumping from kids 11 and up and the Snowboarding Jam Session. You can try all these events! Sign up the night of! See bottom of article for sign up info!

Friday, Feb. 5^th: Catch the Nordic Jumping Jamboree as these guys fly high of the big ski jumps! 4:00 – 5:30pm at Howelson Hill.

And at 6:30-7:40 pm send our Olympians to Vancouver in style with an incredible Olympic Send-off Party! Watch the lighting of the Steamboat Olympic Torch, firework display and get close to 15 Olympians!!! Location: Courthouse Lawn.

Saturday, Feb. 6^th: 9:00am- Noon, Chaos will be ensuing on Main Street as the Street Events will be underway with the kid’s street slalom ski joring, ring and spear, donkey jump and the famous adult shovel race. The horse events are for childrenages 6-14, while there are also non-horse events for infants to 14-year-olds. Pre-registration required at the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association 970-879-0880.

6:30pm is the Night Extravaganza! See a brilliant fireworks, torchlight descent and the Lighted Man!

Sunday, Feb.7^th: 9:00am-11am More Street Events will be taking place with wild horses pulling brave skiers, doggies pulling the little ones in sleds and more chaos!

Don’t miss out on this Winter Carnival fun! Come to Steamboat and get great lodging deals from ResortQuest Steamboat.

See the SSWSC for a full schedule of events, and for a full schedule of the Street Events see the Steamboat Chamber.

See a Video of Steamboat’s Winter Carnvial Weekend Highlight from Good Morning America (2009).