Steamboat’s 100th Annual Winter Carnival

This year the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club will be celebrating 100 years of winter tradition with the annual Winter Carnival being held February 6-10. Since the inception of the Winter Carnival in 1914, the event has been held annually, making it the oldest, continuous winter carnival west of the Mississippi. The festivities include ski jumping competition, street events, the Diamond Hitch Parade with the skiing high school band, and the night extravaganza consisting of fireworks and my personal favorite, the infamous Lighted Man. If you have never experienced the winter carnival, the night extravaganza on Saturday the 9^th is a must see. Its not every day you get to see someone ski down a mountain, at night, in a suit filled with fireworks and pyrotechnics, so you won’t want to miss that! A complete list of events for the Winter Carnival can be found here!

If you’re looking for a spot to watch the night extravaganza, Sweetwater grill is a good option with a rooftop patio and outdoor fireplace just right across the river from Howelsen Hill. There will also be a large crowd of onlookers at the base of Howelsen hill, which will provide an unobstructed view of the entire show. Last year I was astonished at the amount of people that came out to celebrate this wonderful tradition, so make sure you arrive early to secure a good spot. Come on out and celebrate winter with the locals and experience this wonderful piece of history and tradition!