Steamboat Winter Carnival kicks off with time-honored traditions and a snowy spectacle

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Feb. 5-9, thousands of residents and tourists will flood the streets of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, for the annual Steamboat Winter Carnival. For more than 111 years, the festival, once ranked by National Geographic as one of their Top Ten Winter Carnivals in the World, has been a major draw for the town.

Person on skis being pulled by a galloping horse on a snowy street, with spectators and buildings in the background.
Experience 111 years of tradition and culture on this year’s Steamboat Winter Carnival and make your winter extraordinary. Photo credit: Steamboat Winter Carnival.

First held in 1914, just 39 years after Steamboat Springs was founded, this carnival was created to give the locals something to celebrate while combating the loneliness of Colorado’s winters. Known for its quirky traditions and thrilling events, the Steamboat Winter Carnival highlights extreme sports, Western heritages and a sense of community.

Must-see events and experiences

Few winter festivals embrace the season’s wild side quite like the Steamboat Winter Carnival. If you expect polite gatherings of ice skaters and families standing around hot cocoa stands, think again. This festival promises spirit, skill and sheer fun.

Winter thrills like no other

Horse-pulled skiing is the true highlight of the festival and is as exciting as it sounds. Skiers, many of whom are young kids, hold a rope while galloping horses pull them down Lincoln Avenue — testing speed, obstacles and jumps. The horses are trained year-round to prepare them for this high-energy event. Watching a horse gallop down Lincoln Avenue as they pull a skier is a sight that perfectly encapsulates the blend of Steamboat Springs’s Western roots and love of winter sports.

If that isn’t intense enough, the donkey jump takes it a step further. Holding a rope towed by a horse, skiers are launched off a large jump and must make a clean and perfect landing. This event blends rodeo-style grit with the daringness of freestyle skiing. Impacted unpredictably by wind and snow conditions, this nail-biting event will have spectators on the edge of their seats. Bringing art to the adrenaline rush, ski ballet combines dance, gymnastics and freestyle skiing as skiers perform synchronized routines with complex spins, jumps and footwork.

More than just a skiing festival

If you’re not a seasoned athlete, plenty of events are designed for families and casual participants. The Christy Sports Soda Pop Slalom is a kid-friendly race that invites skiers and snowboarders to complete a dual-race course. At the finish line, every participant wins a soda pop, keeping the event’s tone lighthearted and friendly.

You can also check out the side-by-side ski races that allow parents to compete with kids while obstacle courses challenge agility and skiing skills. The quirkiest event is the shovel race, where participants sit on a metal shovel and slide down a snowy track at high speeds.

While those signature events bring the adrenaline, the Steamboat Winter Carnival has more fun-filled activities for the family. Enjoy detailed, large-scale snow sculptures ranging from whimsical winter creatures to intricate, lifelike carvings, it’ll almost feel like Christmas all over again. These beautiful creations are a great opportunity to support local artisans while enjoying a photo op.

Finally, The Lighted Man is at the heart of the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival. Initially created by Claudius Banks, a skier dressed in a suit of flashing lights illuminates the night as he races down a slope. Today, his son Jon Banks continues this tradition with modern LED lighting, Roman candles and sky rockets.

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Eat, stay, love

If you’re wondering where to stay, Steamboat Springs offers a range of accommodations. To be in the heart of the action, The Nordic Lodge — a charming hotel within walking distance of every major event — is the best choice. The Rabbit Ears Motel is an affordable, no-frills stay in downtown Steamboat that provides convenient access to the festival while keeping costs low. For those who want skiing access, the Steamboat Grand Resort Hotel is the best of both worlds offering shuttles downtown while being close to world-class ski runs.

Steamboat Springs also boasts a mix of local favorites and upscale dining that cater to every craving. Freshies is the go-to breakfast spot serving hearty protein bowls, breakfast burritos and homemade cinnamon rolls. If you’re hankering for bold flavors, Bésame brings a unique Latin-fusion twist to the dining scene. For an indulgent and comforting meal, Après Burger Bistro is a trendy, full-service restaurant near the ski slopes where you can get anything from Mac n cheese to ribeye steak.

Attend the Steamboat Winter Carnival

The Steamboat Winter Carnival represents a century-old tradition that transforms winter into something extraordinary. If you want to make the most of this season, now is the time to plan your trip. Grab your carnival button, bundle up and get ready to experience one of the world’s most unique winter festivals firsthand.

Mandy Applegate is the creator behind Splash of Taste and six other high-profile food and travel blogs. She’s also co-founder of Food Drink Life Inc., the unique and highly rewarding collaborative blogger project. Her articles appear frequently on major online news sites and she always has her eyes open to spot the next big trend.

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