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17th Winter Park carnival

Celebrate “100 Years of Grand County,” the theme for Winter Park’s annual Winter Carnival, happening Thursday through Jan. 22 throughout Winter Park and the Fraser Valley with exciting activities, contests and giveaways.

This year’s carnival pays homage to the 100th anniversary of the first winter carnival held in Grand County, in December of 1911, which is considered by many historians to mark the birth of the ski industry in the American West.

The Winter Park-Fraser Valley Winter Carnival also celebrates one of Winter Park’s most famous gals: Mary Jane, for whom one of Winter Park Ski Resort’s most notorious mountains is named. The 2012 Mary Jane Birthday Bash at Winter Park Resort includes free bump tips, an ice castle contest, live music, a 100th Anniversary Wine Celebration Dinner (new this year), and après-ski specials.

The new Wine Celebration Dinner at The Lodge at Sunspot on Friday will feature Robert Mondavi Winery Napa wines. A five-course meal will be paired with some of the finest wines, and Robert Mondavi representatives will be there to present the wines. Tickets are $125, with proceeds to benefit the National Sports Center for the Disabled. Make reservations by calling 1-970-726-1446.

This year, the “Mary Jane Look-Alike Contest” has changed a bit:  Anyone dressed like Mary Jane on Friday and Saturday gets $1 Mary Jane Ales and $3 Jager specials.

The Winter Carnival celebration continues in Winter Park with a 5K snowshoe race at Hideaway Park, a parade down Main Street, a cupcake party, sledding and a fireworks show.

For a complete line-up of activities for Winter Park-Fraser Valley’s 100 Years of Grand County Winter Carnival, as well as lodging options, visit www.play winterpark.com or call 1-800-903-7275.

Ice as art in Breckenridge

Blank canvases of snow become works of art each year in Breckenridge. From a whimsical bouquet of enormous flowers to thought-provoking abstract shapes, sculptors form these masterpieces before thousands of spectators over the course of one week.

During the 22nd Annual International Snow Sculpture Championships on Jan. 24 through 28, 16 four-person teams from 12 countries will compete to transform 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of machine-made snow into sculptures of free-form whimsy or spellbinding intricacy, using only their creativity and a few tools. No internal support structures or colorants are allowed.
Well-known artists act as judges, and awards are bestowed for first-, second- and third-place sculptures.

The international teams selected to participate hail from around the world: Argentina, Australia, Canada-Ontario, Canada-Quebec, Canada-Yukon, China, Finland, Germany, Latvia/Estonia, Mexico-Ulises, Spain, Switzerland, USA-Alaska, USA-Breckenridge, USA-Vermont and USA-Wisconsin-Franklin. Many of the 2012 artists have medaled at major snow-sculpting events around the world.

Support your favorite snow sculpture with the People’s Choice vote. Spectators also can enjoy displays of art from around the world, including paintings, jewelry and sculptures. And don’t miss the Ice Village and the children’s Summit Snowflake (snow-sculpting) Championships. Events are held in and around downtown’s Riverwalk Center. Free public transportation is available throughout the town beginning at 6:30 a.m.

Call the Breckenridge Resort Chamber at 1-877-864-0868 or visit www.GoBreck.com for more information and for last-minute lodging deals, including four-night lodging packages beginning at $120 per person per night, which includes lift tickets.

JOY HARPER, THE GAZETTE