St Patrick’s Day in Winter Park, Colorado

Winter Park Resort St. Patrick’s Day

St Patrick’s Day is coming upon us quickly.  What are your plans to celebrate that little bit of Irish that we all have in us? Well, there is always a good reason to ski a few runs and have a few  green beers in Winter Park.  This year St Patrick’s Day is Wednesday March 17, 2010 and there is plenty to do celebrate the all that is Irish.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
Wednesday, March 17

Join Winter Park Resort for some toe-tappin’, hand-clappin’, good drinkin’, “gotta get up and dance” renditions of traditional and original Irish tunes!

• Discovery Center Plaza: 2:30-5:30pm
• Cheeky Monk: 8:00-10:00pm

Get Your Irish On!

In the town of Winter Park there is no shortage of things to do.  Head to the Winter Park Pub and have a green beer.  Or head over to Randi’s Irish Saloon for some traditional Irish Grub and nip of Jameson Irish Whiskey.

Come on up to the Colorado Rockies and celebrate this St Patrick’s Day Winter Park, CO style.

Winter Park Colorado Mountain Mardi Gras

Mardi Gras in the Colorado Rocky Mountains

Looking for something to do in to celebrate Mardi Gras?  Well look no further, there is much to do up here in Winter Park, Colorado and this is the perfect time to head to the hills and get away from the February blues.  The snow is falling and we should have around ten inches of new snow by this coming Monday, Feb 8th, if the forecasts are to be believed.  So come check out the Winter Park Mountain Mardi Gras.

Saturday February13

12:00-5:00pm at the Winter Park Village

High Altitude Style! Come join the party in the Village to celebrate this New Orleans tradition Winter Park-style! This event features bands, street performers, festive decorations, food and plenty of beads to go around!

Music (in Starbucks Plaza)

12:00pm-1:00pm:  Louisiana Clan Dogs
1:20pm-2:20pm:  Aden Harrell & Friends Jazz Quartet
2:40pm-3:40pm:  Otones Brass Band
4:00pm-5:00pm:  Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe
Performers (throughout the Village)

12:00pm-5:00pm:  Salida Circus Performers (includes flame throwers, jugglers, trapeze artists, jesters & unicyclists)
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Face-Painting and Caricature Drawings
12:00pm-5:00pm:  Children’s Crafts – masks and crowns
1:00pm-3:00pm:  Giant Puppetry
2:00pm-4:00pm:  Ear2Ear Photobooth

Food (in Starbucks Plaza)

Jambalaya, crawfish, etouffee, gumbo, crepes, bread pudding and beignets provided by Village restaurants

FAT Tuesday February 16th

• 6:30-8:30pm – Mardi Gras Parade at Cooper Creek
Square: Come in costume and participate in Fat Tuesday
(Winter Park style) in the shortest, craziest, coldest
Mardi Gras Parade on Earth!
• 9pm – The Grand County Blues Society presents
Trampled Under Foot w/Samantha Fish at Smokin Moes

All of this to be had while trying to get in all the runs at Winter Park and Mary Jane Resorts.

“Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez”

Winter Park Resort Spring Splash 2010

Winter Park, CO. Spring Splash

The 42nd annual Spring Splash is back at Winter Park/Mary Jane Resort on Sunday April 18th, 2010.  This is the longest running end of the season ski party held in Colorado and maybe the United States.  The Spring Splash is now sponsored by Coca-Cola so it is officially known as the Coca-Cola Spring Splask.

Splash as it is known locally here in Winter Park is actually two parties. The official held at the base of Winter Park Resort is a family fun affair with music, racing and prizes.  The official description is: Winter Park Resort’s Coca-Cola® Spring Splash is the oldest tradition of its kind and on its 42nd year. Athletes begin at 12pm as spectators watch skiers and riders struggle through obstacles on the Larry Sale trail race course and attempt to skim across an icy pond to reach the finish line and post a time. Live music sets the tone for a closing day party that is fun for everyone!

The unofficial party, and not for the younger part of the whole family, is the end of season party held in the Challenger lot of Mary Jane Resort.  Music, BBQ, adult beverages, costumes and a very much party atmosphere pervade the “end of season splash”.  Party gets going early, as on the night before on April 17th, and lasts past sundown on April 18th.  The last few years have seen Winter Park/Fraser Valley Police with drug dogs and a big police presence.  This is a fun time though that Winter Park locals and visitors plan for weeks in advance.  So it is fun for all just make good choices with your drinking and driving and other behaviors.

If you have not been to the official or the unofficial Splash you are missing out.  This is one of the most fun, if not the most fun times in Winter Park, CO all year.

For Spring Splash race registration:  Sunday, April 18, 8-10:30am: Guest Services, Balcony House, base of Winter Park Resort. $20 entry fee; $39 lift and entry fee, $15 employee entry fee. Limited to the first 100 participants. 18 and over, must show proof of age. Day of registration only, no pre-registration is available. You must be present to register.

LIVE MUSIC in the Plaza from 2-6pm

For more race details, contact the Winter Park Resort guest information hotline at 970.726.1564.

Lodging prices are at the lowest of the ski season for Spring Splash, so be safe and stay a few nights and enjoy some great deals on Winter Park CO. Lodging.

Winter Park, CO Winter Carnival

Winter Park Winter Carnival

The Winter Park Chamber of Commerce and Winter Park Resort are putting on a carnival celebration for the 70th anniversary of skiing at Winter Park Resort.  On the January 22nd through January 24th there will be a Winter Carnival celebration at Winter Park Resort in the Town of Winter Park and at Grand Park in Fraser.

The Celebration will include:

Winter Park Resort

• Mary Jane’s Birthday Bash
• Winter Park’s 70th Anniversary Celebration
• 26th Annual Chef’s Cup
• Pancakes, snow sculptures, snow golf, live music

Downtown Winter Park

• Snowshoe Hikes
• PlayZone
• Human Bowling
• Lighted Parade including you and your pet!

Grand Park Saturday January 23, 2010:

Sled Dog races (Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club Inc.):

9am (8-Dog Sled Race)

10:30am (6-Dog Sled Race and 2-Dog Skijor)

12pm (4-Dog Sled Race and 1-Dog Skijor)

Dog Agilities: 10am, 11:30am

Grand County Pet Pals Stomp & Romp: 1:30pm-4pm

Skijoring Clinic: 2-3pm

The Fraser Valley Metropolitan Recreation District is hosting the Grand Park Community Recreation Center Grand Opening: 10am-3pm Offering public tours, mini-exhibits, free coffee, cocoa and cookies

Other activities during the day:

Kids dog sled rides

Silent Auction for Pet Pals

Bon Fire/S’Mores/Hot Chocolate

Retail Vendors

Food Vendors

Grand Park Sunday January 24, 2010:

Dog races (Rocky Mountain Sled Dog Club Inc.):

9am (8-Dog Sled Race)

10:30am (6-Dog Sled Race and 2-Dog Skijor)

12pm (4-Dog Sled Race and 1-Dog Skijor)

Awards to follow

New Years Eve in Winter Park, Colorado

New Years Eve Celebration in Winter Park, Colorado

Come celebrate the end of 2009 with some high country fun in Winter Park Colorado.  Spend the day skiing and then head to Hideaway Park in the Town of Winter Park and be treated to some free sledding, rail skates, hot chocolate, human bowling and some warm fire pits with fireworks going off at 10pm.  Great fun for the whole family and if you take it easy on the booze get up early and hit the slopes and start a perfect 2010 by making some turns down the Winter Park Resort slopes.

If the family thing is not your cup of tea there is the Grand County Blues Society New Years Eve Celebration that will be held up at Silverado II Resort and Event Center.  Bring in the New Year in style, blues style! Great food, company and dancing music with champagne toast.  Featured artist is Nick Moss & The Flip Tops with Lurrie Bell.  Time is still to be announced for the the blues celebration.

If blues and the family thing both are not what you are looking for then head out to one of the hopping restaurants at the resort or in town.  I recommend the Cheeky Monk, Tabernash Tavern or the Sushi Bar.

New Years Eve comes once a year.  Don’t waste the one night with a lame night out down in the city.  Make a special evening with special memories and have a Winter Park, Colorado New Years Eve.

Winter Park Parade of Homes

The Winter Park parade of homes will be taking place on two weekends this September.  September 12th and 13th and the 19th and 20 come up to Grand County and tour twelve beautiful homes.  The event is free and the architects and builders will be on hand to answer any questions you may have.  Check out the Parade of homes website.

September is awesome up here in Winter Park.  The aspens start to change and there is a very relaxed atmosphere.  It’s a little chilly in the mornongs but you can wear shorts in the day and at night the fire or hot tub feels very good.

Get your Winter Park Colorado lodging and come visit Winter Park the best time of year!