Grand County Colorado Mountain Winter Carnivals Highlight Bed-Sled Races, Snow Sculptures, Fireworks
Granby, CO (PRWEB) January 23, 2014 -- Think of North American winter carnivals, and you may picture those in St. Paul (Minn.), Quebec City (Canada), or of some of the long-standing college events such as those at Dartmouth College or Michigan Technological University. Add to that list of “greats” the Colorado high country’s own winter carnivals in Grand Country, just west of Denver.
Winter Park Winter Carnival – Mary Jane’s Birthday Bash (Jan. 25-26) This two-day fest includes on-snow family activities such as the inaugural Stagecoach Classic (30k point-to-point cross country ski race plus a 15k cross-country and snowshoe tour; registration available at http://www.winterparkadventure.com), live music, silent auction, food, night time parade down the main street of Winter Park and fireworks display.
To round out the weekend's activities, there is also the celebration of Mary Jane's 39th Birthday at Winter Park Resort, complete with snow sculptures, free bump and tele-tips clinics and specials every day.
Check out http://www.playwinterpark.com/wpwintercarnival.html for the
complete weekend schedule.
Grand Lake Winter Carnival (Feb. 1) – The winter carnival, in scenic Grand Lake, features a full day – and evening – of snow- and ice-focused fun. The town, located 100 miles northwest of Denver on the shores of the largest natural lake in Colorado, becomes a snowy wonderland during the winter, with crisp, dry air, crystal-blue skies and the peaks of the Gore Range.
Local residents and visitors participate in activities that range from the traditional and classic to unusual and even wacky. The theme for this year’s carnival is “The Superstars of Music”. Attendees will find a snow-sculpture contest, parent-child sled pull, a dancing in the street parade, and the ever-popular bed-sled races. For the sports enthusiast, teapot curling and human bowling (complete with both kids’ and adults’ courses) are on tap. In the evening, activities move indoors with live music, awards and a ball. The event, which is free for all spectators, concludes outdoors with fireworks over the lake.
Check out Grand County’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/grandcountycolorado and follow @grandcountyco on Twitter or http://www.pinterest.com/grandcountyco/ on Pinterest.
About Grand County, Colo. (http://www.visitgrandcounty.com)
Located 67 miles west of Denver, Grand County is home to wide-open spaces, breathtaking mountain scenery and authentic old-west towns. Outdoor recreational activities include golf, boating, fishing, biking, hiking, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, skiing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, sleigh rides and tubing. The area features more than 600 miles of mapped and marked trails, one national park, two national forests, two wilderness areas, two national scenic byways, two major ski resorts, five world-class dude ranches and four mountain golf courses. Grand County’s extensive water network includes Colorado’s largest natural lake, 1,000 miles of streams, 1,000 acres of high-mountain lakes and 11,000 acres of reservoirs.
Gaylene Ore, Grand County Colorado Tourism Board, http://www.visitgrandcounty.com, +1 (970) 531-2336, [email protected]
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