Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival

The Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival started as a way to help locals with cabin fever during the height of the winter season and has continued to this day as a way to celebrate winter. In fact, the Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival is the longest running winter carnival west of the Mississippi. Carl Howelsen, often acknowledged as the man who brought the sport of skiing to Colorado, started this tradition in 1914 with cross country skiing races and jumping competitions. In its second year, the town added skijouring competitions where skiers were pulled by horses.

This annual celebration includes a variety of exciting and fun-filled events that embrace Steamboat Springs' western heritage and highlight its tradition of winter sports. The festivities include such events as an outdoor adventure film festival and/or slide show series, ski jumping, dual slalom bicycle race, snowboarding jam session, tubing party, pancake breakfast, soda pop slalom, telemark revival, international muzzleloading biathlon, chariot racing, the diamond hitch parade which includes the Steamboat Springs High School band on skis, street events with horse and rider pulling kids on skis down main street on Saturday and Sunday, and the Night Show Extravaganza with a huge fireworks display and the famous Lighted Man.

Winter Carnival button sales proceeds are the primary source of funds within the event. All spectators and event participants are encouraged to purchase and wear an official Winter Carnival button to show their support of Winter Carnival and of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Buttons can be purchased at the Chamber Resort Association, Winter Sports Club, other local businesses and at most events. All proceeds from button sales support the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and its athletes.