From February 7th-11th, Steamboat will celebrate what is perhaps its most offbeat and authentic western event: the Steamboat Winter Carnival. Started in 1914 by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club to help locals mitigate cabin fever, the event originally took place on Woodchuck Hill (currently the location of Colorado Mountain College). Steamboat Winter Carnival is the oldest continuous winter carnival west of the Mississippi.

Signature events over the five-day affair include: Opening Ceremonies with the Queen and her Royal Court; a kids’ Soda Pop Slalom (school is cancelled); Dual Slalom Bicycle Racing; Street Events (on 400 tons of trucked-in snow) featuring the Donkey Jump, Shovel Race, Dog Dash, Dad Dash and Ski Joring; the Night Extravaganza with the famous Lighted Man (an impressive 70-pound suit studded with flashing lights powered by a 12-Volt DC gas recombination battery pack with 32 Roman candles, 12 sky rockets, and a metal cylinder on a football helmet), kids jumping with flares through hoops of fire and one of the biggest fireworks show in the country; and the culminating Diamond Hitch Parade.

To enter and enjoy the raucous, one-of-a-kind spectacular, buy a 2018 Winter Carnival button. All proceeds benefit the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.