It’s that time of year again, when thousands of folks flock to Valley County — McCall, Idaho specifically, to take part in the McCall Winter Carnival. It’s been going on since 1924 and word on the street is that the 2008 edition brought 77 thousand people to town to watch the parade.
Since this is my first Winter Carnival as a local, I’ll be able to partake in the festivities in an enjoyable fashion. Truth is, I didn’t realize just how many festivities there are at this snow festival. It’s a great event for tourists and locals alike, and plays a big part in the local economy.
The Dark Knight
At the core of the carnival is definitely the ice sculptures — which is what I remember most from my visits as a kid. (OK, maybe the parade is the “core” of the festival, but to me it’s the sculptures!) These carvings range from being absolutely enormous to exquisitely intricate — and everywhere in between. Local businesses have sculptures and there are professional ice carvers that roll into town to compete as well.
Check out the schedule of events for other interesting activities. There are comedy nights, bingo, fireworks, among other things. So come on up to McCall and join in the fun. And what ever you do, don’t miss the Monster Dog Pull.
That dog's getting his pull on!
-Scott
(Added 2/9/2009)
Here’s a photogallery with some pictures for this year — 2009. You’ll notice that the event did not disappoint!
P.S. If you want to see more photos/pictures than this, check out these Winter Carnival pictures at Matt Moehr’s site.
Sweet blog Scott! I’ll be keeping an eye on it… Cheers.