Steamboat Springs, Colorado, is an outdoor adventurer's dream destination no matter the season you visit. From the distant snow-capped peaks to the lush rolling hills, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful location. During the winter months, Steamboat Springs is widely known by a different name, Ski Town USA®. World class skiing and a friendly community make this one of the top winter destinations in America. Each year, the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and the Steamboat Chamber of Commerce put together the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival. The festival lasts five days during early February, showcasing this beautiful mountain city and its welcoming residents.
The carnival has been running for over a century and it supports the local athletes while highlighting the community's love of outdoor winter activities. This one-of-a-kind celebration draws thousands of people from all over Colorado and the entire United States. There are events for all ages and interests. Kids will love all the skiing events catered to them and the unique 25-Yard Dog and Dash Run, where kids five and under are pulled on sleds by the family dog and after pulled by their fathers. Adults can take part in all the night-time activities that center around the massive tent party. The festival is rounded out in a visual spectacular complete with a fireworks show and a unique display of coordinated skiers going down the slopes with bright flares. The carnival is a go-to destination for anyone who loves outdoor winter activities and having a great time in a friendly community. We interviewed Jim Boyne, the Executive Director of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, about the carnival and its long history.
RAL: Tell me about the event.
JB: This year will be the 103rd Winter Carnival; the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club (SSWSC) has organized the event for 102 years! The First Winter Carnival was held in 1913, and the SSWSC was formed in 1914 for the purpose of planning and promoting the next Winter Carnival. The SSWSC is proud to have been organizing the event ever since, and is now an athletic and youth development organization with a vision of “Creating champions, on and off the mountain.” We are well known internationally for the quality of our athletic programming and number of athletes who have competed in the Olympics.
The Winter Carnival isn’t just a day of events; it runs from Wednesday to Sunday each year in early February, and during those four days, we have approximately 10,000 spectators. On each of those four days there are between two and seven events, with each event having between 20 and 500 participants. Popular events to participate in are held during the “Street Events,” which run for four hours both mornings on Saturday and Sunday. Athletes are pulled behind horses on the snow filled Main Street of Steamboat, maneuvering around cones and flying off a donkey jump. There are other events as well, including ring and spear events, shovel races, daddy races (where dads race pulling their kids), and slaloms. The Night Extravaganza on Saturday is the big draw for spectators, skiers, and riders come down Howelsen Hill in the dark, carrying flares and lights. Nordic jumpers soar through a fiery hoop, and the famous Lighted Man makes his yearly appearance. It’s a holiday for the locals, and something to write home about for the visitors.
RAL: What makes the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival unique?
JB: The history of this event make it unique. For over 100 years, we have been able to keep traditions alive, and it is something that children grow up looking forward to and then are able to share with their families when they grow up. It never grows old because the events are so unique to our western ski town. Each year, seeing horses run down the Main Street is just as impressive as the year before because of the skills of the athlete the horse is towing. It’s an event that brings people together and reminds us of our roots.
RAL: Tell me about the overall environment of the carnival?
JB: It feels like a holiday. That warm feeling that kids have when Christmas or birthdays arrive is the same feeling that we all have for the Winter Carnival. It usually is snowing and we are all excited about the potential for fresh skiing, as well as seeing our neighbors and slowing down the pace of life for a few days to really enjoy what matters to us.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
JB: Book early if you plan to come to Steamboat for the Winter Carnival! In addition to this great event, Steamboat has some of the best powder in February and is a top ski destination, so it’s good to plan early. Many places offer discounts for early booking, as well. The Winter Carnival is a community favorite and a huge draw for visitors, not to mention it’s a great time to come ski in Steamboat.
RAL: Does this drive business to your local economy?
JB: The event absolutely drives business to the local economy, but that is not why the SSWSC continues to organize it. It is the club’s way of giving back and saying thank you to the community that has been supporting our athletes for over 100 years.
RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community?
JB: The event is a celebration of our community. Much of the costs to participants and spectators during Winter Carnival support the costs of organizing and putting on all of the events. The sale of $10 buttons has become a part of our heritage and every spectator purchases a button to support the Winter Carnival. The proceeds of button sales help to offset the costs of Winter Carnival, but also support the athletes of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
RAL: Why should people come the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival?
JB: People should come because it is a unique experience for all. It is rare to visit a place that loves its western and mountain heritage so much that it celebrates it with a four-day festival; the cheer is infectious! Our events and ceremonies are something you won’t see everywhere; how many places plow snow into the streets so they can drag their ski-clad children behind racing horses? If family, community, and winter fun with western charm are appealing to you, this is an event that will reinforce your values and establish how much fun mountain communities have.
For more information please visit the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club webpage.
Photos Courtesy of Rory Clow of Couloir Images