Welcome to the Official Rossland Winter Carnival site!

Welcome to Canada’s newest wrinkle about its Oldest Winter Carnival!  We’re now finished with one of the most successful carnivals ever!!  Thanks to all those that participated in any way to make the 111th ROSSLAND WINTER CARNIVAL, which took place January 25, 26 and 27, 2008, such a great time!

The 112th Rossland Winter Carnival will be held, January 30th, 31st and 32nd, 2009!!!  Come join us! 

 Check out all the pictures, videos and stories about current Carnival events and our long history of carnivals.

To register and learn more about any event or to volunteers…please contact our Carnival hotline at the Chamber of Commerce at 250-362-5666!!!  Open 7 days a week now.

We invite you to give your feedback in the comments area at each post and remember…

 Check back often and be a part of Canada’s Oldest Winter Carnival!

January 20, 2008

Caroline has done a great job updating the events schedule tab on this website and now the official full schedules have been printed!  Find them beginning Monday, January, 21st at Nelson Credit Union, Red Mountain, Ferraro Foods, Ross Vegas, and other retailers in Rossland. 

Plus, watch for the whole schedule and more news stories in Wednesday’s edition of the Trail Rossland News and Thursday’s edition of the Trail Daily Times.

And, listen to KBS Radio & Mountain FM for our ads, interviews and news & the latest buzz.

Volunteer for Carnival!

Author: drunkduck
January 17, 2008

The Rossland Winter Carnival is proud to be run only by volunteers!  But, we always need more!!!

Just a couple of hours for an event here and there can make a world of difference and give you a chance to win “volunteer only swag”.  We save some of our best prizes and awards for our volunteer pool.  As a carnival volunteer, you’re guaranteed a great time!

Some of the volunteer needs we currently have….

  • Kids Carnival helpers
  • Beer Gardens staff (19yrs old mininum)
  • Donation Gatherer (Boot Girls & Dudes working the crowds for donations to help Carnival break even, hopefully)
  • Relay & Bobsled race course managers (manning checkpoints, crowd control, etc.)
  • lots more ideas with your talent!

Call our carnival hotline at the chamber at 362-5666 to help make Carnival the Best and the Oldest Winter Carnival in Canada!

January 17, 2008

Show your passion for Canada’s Oldest Winter Carnival and win prizes!

Yes, the amazing Slocan Valley Canadian Snow Sculpture Team will be carving a fantastic sculpture beside the downtown ice rink on Saturday afternoon.  It’ll be Carnival’s legacy to the Alpine City for the rest of the winter.

But you can show off your carving skills, too, in your own yard.  Be a Sculptasaurus and create your own snow creature, then take a digital picture and email direct to me…  drunkduck@shaw.ca .  Your picture will be posted among our Galleries right here on the website.  With practice, maybe you, too, can end up carving at the Olympic Games like our Slocan pros do.

 Check out…. www.snowsculpture.com

Rail Jam’s Got Game!

Author: drunkduck
January 17, 2008

COORS LIGHT PRESENTS…”THE GAME” Ski & Snowboard Rail Jam returns to downtown Rossland for the 111th Winter Carnival on Saturday afternoon, January 26th.  For any newbies out there, here’s the setting.  Plunk down a town of funky, historic buildings in the middle of an extinct volcano then have it snow 15 feet per year on top of that town.  What do you get?  The perfect setup for a rail jam park for skis & snowboards on a steep street in the middle of Rossland.  (same conditions provide for  a wild bobsled run, too)

The Game is on Queen Street right beside the century+ old Post Office.  Two age groups of skiers and snowboards can strutt their stuff in front the crowd.  DJs, beer gardens and thousands of dollars in prizes.  Participants need a helmet and can register the day of.

PRIZES FOR THE GAME SUPPLIED BY…

COORS LIGHT                                         DaKINE

RED MOUNTAIN RESORTS               SOLOMAN

ROSSVEGAS BOARDSHOP                ONTIC CLOTHING

The official bar of “The Game” is Nowhere Special who is hosting the official Coors Light After Party.  Contestants over 19 years old get into the party for free, but get there early to be able to get in!

CHECK OUT - Carnival’s Picture Galleries  and www.got-game.ca for more info.

Sponsors & Volunteers, Thanks!

Author: drunkduck
January 15, 2008

We couldn’t be celebrating Canada’s Oldest Winter Carnival for the 111th year if it were not for the fantastic support of all our sponsors and the hard work & passion of our dozens of volunteers.

Carnival is all about grassroots.  Not a single person is paid for any service.  It is a true Kootenay event where the entire community of Rossland takes turns presenting and watching what has become a premier Winter festival.  If you’re reading this, you are probably one of those people too numerous to mention that deserves a big hug and a grateful thank you. 

Our sponsors are all listed on the left side of the website.  Please click on their names to visit their websites should they have one.  They’re a wide bunch of sposors from media to industrial to retail to government.  All the sponsors share the same passion that our volunteers have for Rossland, the Kootenays and our Winter Carnival.  Of special note, this year 3 organizations have stepped up their support of Carnival to achieve a new level of Diamond Sponsorship. 

Special Thanks to…

- The City of Rossland

- Nelson & District Credit Union

- Red Mountain Resorts

After well over a century, it’s great to have a team as strong as this one.

Sincerly,

 Carnival Committee (all volunteers)

Blizzardfest is back!

Author: drunkduck
January 6, 2008

Carnival is pleased to welcome back its musical brother, Blizzardfest!, back again for 2008! 

Live music will fill up Rossland throughout the weekend. www.blizzardfest.com

GET HYPED!

Author: drunkduck
January 4, 2008

GET HYPED PARTY - Jan 16/08 

The annual GET HYPED! Winter Carnival Party for Event Organizers and key volunteers is set for Wednesday, January 16th, 2008, at the Prestige Inn Lounge - 6:30 PM. 

Get Hyped is where we do the absolute final schedule and work on all our last minute needs.  All event organizers and key helpers are requested to attend.  Bring your brain, your smile and and toast for our friend, Olaus Jeldness.

Organizers will be contacted by the Carnival Committee by phone. 

For more info on the Get Hyped, please email our president, Kelly at kelly@adventureengine.com .

Cheers!

Ben - Carnival Media

111th Parade Contest

Author: drunkduck
January 4, 2008

Rossland Winter Carnival Committee

C/o Box 1385, Rossland, BC V0G 1Y0

Media: (250) 365-6650

 

CANADA’S MOST UNIQUE PARADE IN THE SNOW

IS GIVING YOU A CHANCE TO

WIN A RED RESORT SEASON’S PASS!!!

 

Plan your entry into the…

111TH Rossland Winter Carnival Parade & Extravaganza

The Parade is one of the signature events at Canada’s oldest winter carnival held on the Friday evening of the last weekend in January each year and we want you to be a part of it!

All Parade participants are entered into a draw to win a Red Mountain seasons ski pass! Draw takes place at the Extravaganza following the parade.

Entries can be floats, costumes, entertainers, almost anything!

Call Anna at 362-5754 to book your Parade spot!

Variety Show Auditions

Author: drunkduck
January 4, 2008

Inviting Rossland’s Finest Talent To…

AUDITION

For The 111TH Rossland Winter Carnival

 

“VARIETY SHOW”

The Variety Show is one of the signature events at Canada’s oldest winter carnival held the last weekend of January each year and we want you to be a part of it!

Auditions are Wednesday, January 16th, 2008 at the Rossland High School Auditorium

Contact Lisa at old_grey_mare_55@hotmail.com or at 362-9063 to book your audition spot.

111th News Release

Author: drunkduck
January 4, 2008

111th Annual Rossland Winter Carnival

Sure To Be Full of Spectacular Family Fun!!!

Olaus Jeldness would be amazed. He was the Norwegian miner who, way back in 1897, initiated Canada’s Oldest Winter Carnival by inviting his friends to the top of Red Mountain for a now infamous “Tea Party”. Afterwards, he sent his guests barrelling down the hill with long wooden sticks strapped to their feet which he called “skis”. And, that is how the sport got its start in Canada.

Now it’s almost the year 2008 and on January 25th - 27th, Olaus would be astounded to see boarders flying through the air carving graceful lines right beside the very same post office that he knew during Saturday’s fantastic Rail Jam. Following that, watch out for some Big Air, Fireworks and Torchlights at Red Resort’s Family Fun Night.

Old traditions continue with Friday’s parade that gives participants a chance to win a seasons ski pass while listening to live music downtown at the Carnival Extravaganza. The big Variety Show follows that with wonderful family entertainment.

Still more comes on Saturday morning with the Fireman’s Pancake breakfast and the amazing Sonny Samuelson Bobsled Race that comes screaming down Spokane St. Watch for the world renown Slocan Ice Sculptures while taking a Dogsled ride by the Snow Volleyball or the World Bigolfathon Championships.

Rossland’s finest social event, the Rotary Wine Tasting, recalls that first tea party by going bigger and better at the High School Auditorium on Saturday evening.

Sunday, sees most of the action moving to Lion’s park which will feature snowmobile rides and snowshoeing for all the kids at their Carnival. The challenging John Heintz Cup, a 5 person relay race starting at the top of Red will finish there, as well.

Awesome music, ice bars, historical plays and still more great activities are being planned.

Make sure you plan to watch, take part and live what Olaus Jeldness could only dream about…

 

The 111th Rossland Winter Carnival!!!

For More Information, contact Carnival’s hotline at the Chamber, 362-5666, and watch for our new website coming soon at www.rosslandwintercarnival.com .