12 festivals to brighten any winter day

By Sarah Kuta

Special to The Denver Post

Winters in Colorado are pretty great — there’s abundant sunshine, a dizzying number of outdoor sports and activities to choose from, and plenty of restaurants, bars, breweries, distilleries and wineries to visit on chilly evenings. The list goes on and on.

But if you find yourself needing a little extra “oomph” in your life this winter, make plans to head to one of these beloved Colorado festivals. From impressive snow and ice carvings to quirky competitions, they offer a little something for everyone. (And they promise to make the winter months fun even if you don’t ski or snowboard!)

Note: As with everything these days, check ahead of your visit for updates. The pandemic may yet again interrupt our winter fun.

Ullr Festival

Breckenridge

Dec. 8-17

gobreck.com/event/ullr-fest

Since 1963, Breckenridge has hosted an epic, 10-day festival honoring Ullr, the Norwegian god of snow. Ullr, who was rumored to be an accomplished skier, was so fast that he created the stars in the night sky as he flew by on his skis. The festival features a big parade down Main Street, a bonfire, an ice skating party, games, gatherings and other fun.

Wintersköl

Aspen

Jan. 13-16

aspenchamber.org/events/winterskol

Aspen held its first Wintersköl celebration in 1951 — more than 70 years ago! — and this beloved “toast to winter” festival has been going strong ever since. Spread across four days, the festival includes the naming of Wintersköl royalty, a soup-making competition, live music, snow sculptures, a scavenger hunt and other family-friendly fun. A young skier leaps off a jump on a float on Main Street during the 56th annual Ullr Fest parade in Breckenridge on Jan. 10, 2019. Andy Cross, Denver Post file

Team Breckenridge’s Let it Snow sculpture during the 29th International Snow Sculpture Championships on Jan. 25, 2019.

International Snow Sculpture Championships

Breckenridge

Carving, Jan. 24-28

Viewing, Jan. 28-30

gobreck.com/event/international-snow-sculpture-championships

This beloved annual event features 16 of the world’s best snowcarving teams, who descend upon Summit County to transform 20ton blocks of snow into largerthan-life masterpieces. Even more impressive? The snow artists can only use tools powered by their own muscles, as power tools are strictly forbidden. After five days of carving, they officially unveil their works of art and turn downtown Breck into a very chilly art gallery that’s free and open to all.

Winter X-Games

Aspen

Jan. 21-23

aspensnowmass.com/visit/ events/x-games-aspen

Nearly 100 of the world’s raddest athletes will descend upon Aspen-Snowmass again this winter to compete in the X Games, a collection of extreme snow sports events. It’s free to attend and Buttermilk remains open to the public if you’re inspired to ski or snowboard. Everyone age 12 and older will be required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination to get into spectator viewing and festival areas. There are no ticketed concerts this year, but there will be DJs at XFest and the base area.

Rio Frio Ice Fest

Alamosa

Jan. 28-30

riofrioice.com

The focus of Alamosa’s annual winter festival is unique: a 5K foot race completed entirely on the frozen Rio Grande River. There’s also a fat bike race, a polar plunge, a bonfire, ice sculpting and lots of other chilly festivities.

Daniel Brenner, Special to The Denver Post, file

Birders and nature lovers converge on the Eastern Plains near Lamar each winter to welcome flocks of snow geese as they fly south to

warmer weather. Jill Smith, provided by High Plains Snow Goose Festival

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Ouray Ice Festival

Ouray

Jan. 20-23

ourayicepark.com/ouray-ice-festival

Watch as some of the world’s most impressive climbers scale frozen waterfalls and artificial structures in Ouray during this three-day competition and festival. There are several competitions, including mixed climbing and speed climbing, plus vendors, food and drinks and gatherings.

Winterfest

Pagosa Springs

Jan. 21-23

pagosachamber.com/winterfest

This Pagosa Springs celebration of all things winter includes hot air balloon ascensions, parade, sled races, fat bike race, skijoring, BB gun biathlon, cross-country ski clinic and a popular “Penguin Plunge” that involves jumping into the chilly San Juan River.

Snowdown

Durango

Jan. 26-30

snowdown.org

Snowdown has been a Durango staple for more than 40 years. After taking a year off because of the pandemic, the event’s organizers plan to put a spell on locals and visitors alike. Expect a light parade, fun contests and competitions, costumes and live performances from the Snowdown Follies, a beloved group that puts on comedy/variety shows each year. This year’s theme is “Magical and Mystical.”

Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival

Steamboat Springs

Feb. 9-13

sswsc.org/events/winter-carnival

Organized by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, this mountain town’s annual carnival has been a bright spot during winter for more than 100 years. Expect high-flying ski jumpers, races, skijoring (skiers pulled behind a galloping horse) and a seriously impressive “Lighted Man” who swoops down the slopes wearing a pyrotechnic suit that shoots off fireworks.

High Plains Snow Goose Festival

Lamar

Feb. 3-6

highplainssnowgoose.com

Each year, thousands of brightwhite snow geese descend upon southeastern Colorado as they migrate south for winter. There are so many, in fact, that the region’s lakes and fields turn white — not from snow, but from the geese. This winter festival celebrates and honors the annual migration with speakers, tours, demonstrations and other events.

Ice climbers head up a huge vertical, human-made ice cliff known as the Pic o’ the Vic section at the Ouray Ice Park on Jan. 11, 2019.

Andy Cross, Denver Post file

Cripple Creek Ice Festival

Cripple Creek

Feb. 5-13

visitcripplecreek.com

Using power tools, hand tools or some combination of both, teams whittle away at 180-pound blocks of ice to create works of art. This year, competitors will be able to choose their own theme and festivalgoers will be able to vote on the display they love the most. There’s usually an ice slide and an ice maze. There are also vendors, music and a beer garden at this winter festival.

Frozen Dead Guy Days

Nederland

March 18-20

frozendeadguydays.org

While the rest of the world was grappling with the pandemic, Bredo Morstoel — aka Grandpa — was blissfully unaware, resting peacefully on a bed of dry ice in a shed. Nederland’s iconic Frozen Dead Guy Days winter festival is back and paying homage to Morstoel once again after a two-year hiatus. Expect dozens of live bands, heated tents with food and drink vendors, coffin racing, frozen T-shirt contests and other outrageous events.