Ever seen a 10-year-old cowboy-in-training being towed on skis behind a horse? Mention a community parade or a nighttime fireworks show and most people will shrug. Now talk about adults sitting on shovels being dragged down a main street behind horses, and skiers jumping through a flaming hoop, and people stop to listen.
In Steamboat Springs nothing is ever ordinary. Winter Carnival is a one-of-a-kind celebration that embraces Steamboat's western heritage and Routt County's tradition of winter sports, and it is the oldest continuously running Winter Carnival west of the Mississippi.
When Is Winter Carnival 2027?
The 114th Steamboat Springs Winter Carnival is scheduled for Tuesday, February 2 through Sunday, February 7, 2027.
Family events and activities run at Howelsen Hill from Tuesday through Sunday, with the famous Street Events taking over Lincoln Avenue on Saturday and Sunday, and the Night Extravaganza on Saturday evening.
The Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club publishes the detailed schedule of events in January. Confirm dates and times at sswsc.org and wintercarnivalsteamboat.com before you finalize plans.
A Little History
Winter Carnival dates to 1914, founded by Norwegian ski pioneer Carl Howelsen as a way to help residents cope with cabin fever in the depths of a Colorado winter. More than a century later it is still hosted by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club, one of the largest and oldest winter sports clubs in the nation and the organization responsible for producing more than 100 Olympians out of a town of roughly 13,000 people.
For six days the entire town gets given over to it: racing, ski jumping, snow sculptures on Lincoln Avenue, a parade featuring Steamboat's skiing high school band (the only skiing marching band in the United States), ski jöring down a snow-covered main street, and a night show featuring the legendary Lighted Man, whose battery-powered pyrotechnic suit weighs 70 pounds.
You Need a Button. Here Is Why.
This is the single most important practical thing to know.
A Winter Carnival button is required to spectate or participate at all Winter Carnival events. Not just to compete. To watch. Visitors get caught out by this every year.
- Buttons have recently run $15 and typically go on sale around town in mid-January.
- Your button also gets you a free lift ticket at Howelsen Hill during carnival week. Stop by the Howelsen Hill ticket office with your button to obtain a physical ticket.
- Buttons are sold at locations throughout Steamboat and at all Winter Carnival events. Look for the "Buy Your Button Here" signs. Most locations take cash or check, with some accepting cards.
- Proceeds support the Winter Carnival and the athletes of the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club.
- The button artwork is designed each year by a local young artist chosen through a contest.
Note: some events require additional registration or separate tickets on top of your button. Check the official schedule when it posts.
What to Expect During the Week
Opening Ceremonies
The week begins at Olympian Hall at Howelsen Hill Lodge with a celebration honoring the Winter Carnival Queen, her Court of Attendants, the Little Princesses, and the Grand Marshals.
Snow Sculptures on Lincoln Avenue
Ice blocks arrive downtown early in the week and get carved by students and community members around an annual theme. Stroll Lincoln Avenue to see them, with judging midweek and winners announced at the Street Events. Sculpture applications are handled through Steamboat Creates, reachable at (970) 879-9008.
Howelsen Hill Family Events
Tuesday through Sunday, Howelsen Hill fills with events aimed squarely at kids and families:
- Ski Jumping Jamboree, where children try the Bump Jump and 20 meter jump on alpine equipment
- Cross Country Obstacle Course, a non-competitive nordic course for younger skiers
- Family Duals, a friendly GS race where you can go head to head with your own child
- Soda Pop Slalom, open to skiers and riders 11 and under
- Terrain Park Jam Session under the lights
- Air Bag Jam Session, where Winter Sports Club freestyle and snowboard athletes launch into a 50 foot airbag. Outstanding photography opportunity.
- Nordic Jumping Exhibition, with club athletes on the 20, 30, 45, 75, and 100 meter jumps
- Amateur Ski Jumping for ages 15 and up, on alpine equipment, under the lights
- S'More Family Fun Party in the tent at Vanatta Field, with chili, a DJ, a bonfire, fire spinners, and s'mores
- Mountain Soiree, a 21-plus themed dance party with live music, food, and fire pits
Most youth events require a signed release form on file with SSWSC. Some require advance registration. Check the official schedule.
Street Events on Lincoln Avenue
Saturday and Sunday mornings, and the reason most visitors come. Lincoln Avenue gets covered in snow and children on skis and snowboards get towed down it behind horses. Races include street slalom, ski jöring, ring and spear, the donkey jump, and the famous adult shovel race. Horse events are for ages 6 to 14, with non-horse events for ages 1 to 14.
Pre-registration is required and opens on a set date in early February. Registration fills fast. Spectators need a button.
The Diamond Hitch Parade
Following Sunday's Street Events. A diamond hitch consists of at least four skiers holding onto points of a rope tied in the shape of one or more diamonds, pulled down the snow-filled street by animals, people, or vehicles. Anyone is welcome to enter. Pre-registration required, typically opening in early January.
The Night Extravaganza
Saturday evening at Howelsen Hill, and the signature event of the whole week. Thousands of spectators pack the hillside for it.
It opens with local athletes showing their skills in the dark, lit only by flares and LED lights. Then the Lighted Man skis down Howelsen Hill firing pyrotechnics from his suit, jumpers soar through a flaming hoop off the nordic jumps, and the night closes with one of the largest fireworks displays in the country.
Recent years have added a premium ticketed experience in the tent at the base of the hill with food, drinks, and front-row views. It sold out in 2026, so if it returns, buy early.
Pro Alpine Ski Jumping
Qualifications and finals across the weekend, with competitors launching off the 100 meter jump on alpine skis and boots rather than proper jumping equipment. Genuinely a must-see, and they do try to break the hill record.
Knights of Columbus Pancake Breakfast
Hosted annually at Holy Name Catholic Church, 524 Oak Street. The correct way to fuel up before a morning of Street Events. Donations accepted, and buttons are usually available on site.
Glossary: What Are You Actually Watching?
If you have never seen Street Events, the announcements will not make much sense. Here is your decoder.
Ski Jöring (ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 14): A contestant on skis races a flat course down the street while being pulled by a horse. Fastest time wins.
Street Slalom (ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 14): Same idea, but skiing a slalom course through cones while being towed. Missing a cone or falling means disqualification.
Ring and Box (ages 6 to 9): The contestant holds a ring of rope while being pulled by a horse and attempts to drop it into a washtub in passing. Fastest time wins, with a penalty for missing the tub.
Ring and Spear (ages 6 to 9): Five stands line the street with a rope ring hanging from each. The contestant carries a spear and tries to collect all five while being towed. Most rings plus fastest time wins.
Donkey Jump (ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 14): The contestant jumps off a two foot ramp while being pulled on skis behind a horse. Longest distance while staying upright wins.
Shovel Race (ages 18 and over): Adults sit in a shovel of any type and get pulled down a flat course by a horse. Fastest time wins. Falling off means disqualification. This is exactly as good as it sounds.
Three-Legged Race (ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 11): Two people on skis with legs tied together, ties provided, racing to the finish.
Obstacle Course (ages 4 to 6, 7 to 10, and 11 to 14): Contestants on skis maneuver around obstacles then sprint for the line.
25, 50, and 75 Yard Dashes: On skis. 25 yards for ages 3 to 5, 50 yards for 6 to 8, and 75 yards for 9 to 11.
Dog Dash and Dad Dash (ages 5 and under): Small children get pulled in a sled or toboggan, no metal runners, by the family dog, with the parent leading the leashed dog. The Dad Dash follows, with Dad on all fours pulling the child. First over the line wins. This is the one that ends up on everyone's phone.
Tips for Visiting Winter Carnival
- Buy your button before you arrive at an event. Do not turn up on Lincoln Avenue Saturday morning without one.
- Stay downtown if you can. Street Events happen on Lincoln Avenue and Howelsen Hill is just off 5th Street. Being able to walk to both, and walk home when your feet are frozen, changes the whole experience.
- Dress for standing still. You will be outside and stationary for hours in early February. Layers, real boots, hand warmers.
- Get there early for the Night Extravaganza. Thousands of people turn out for it and the good hillside spots go fast.
- Book lodging now. Carnival week is one of the busiest of the Steamboat winter, and it falls right before Presidents' Day weekend traffic picks up.
- Register early if your kids want to compete. Street Events registration opens on a specific date and time and fills quickly.
Where to Stay for Winter Carnival
Carnival is a downtown event. Howelsen Hill sits at 845 Howelsen Parkway, just across the Yampa from Lincoln Avenue, so downtown lodging puts you in walking distance of essentially everything.
- Downtown Steamboat rentals, the clear pick for Carnival week
- Private homes and townhomes for families and groups
- Ski-in ski-out lodging if you are splitting time between Carnival and Mt. Werner
- Pet friendly rentals, relevant if you have a Dog Dash competitor
Check our current lodging deals, then browse and book your stay.
Contact Steamboat Lodging Company
Phone: 970-457-4785
Email: Contact us here
Office: 1169 Hilltop Parkway, #101A, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487
More Steamboat Planning Resources
- Steamboat Winter Event Calendar '26/27
- Packing For Your Steamboat Ski Vacation
- Top 15 Restaurants in Steamboat Springs
- 11 Things To Do in Steamboat Off the Slopes
Dates, ticketing, and event details are based on information published by the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club and Steamboat Resort and are accurate as of publication. The 114th Winter Carnival schedule had not been formally released at publication. Button pricing, registration dates, and the detailed schedule are confirmed each January. Please verify at sswsc.org before finalizing plans.