Events at the Sandpoint Winter Carnival
2014 Schedule of Events — This year’s Sandpoint Winter Carnival, Feb. 14-23, 2014, is shaping up to be the best one yet! Take a look at the schedule to see all the fun happenings, and plan on being here for the 40th annual Sandpoint Winter Carnival!
Browse by date:
Every day
Dine Around Sandpoint
All day, all around town
A host of restaurants around town feature different specials each day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. And every time you dine around Sandpoint at participating restaurants, you’ll be entered to win a grand prize: A meal out once a month for a full year. Pick up a map to participating restaurants at locations around town. See more at DineAroundSandpoint.com.
Abominable Snow Sale
All day, all around downtown
Sometimes it pays to go shopping! Participating stores will have specials the entire week of Winter Carnival.
Winter Crafts
Creations For Sandpoint, Cedar St Bridge, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. every day
Friday, February 14
Ski Joring Registration Party
Sweet Lou’s If you have a fast horse or are good on skis (also handy: nerves of steel!) then why not? Ski Joring is a Scandinavian-inspired, centuries-old contest with horses and riders pulling skiers around a course at breakneck speeds. You can enter as a team or individually to be paired with either a rider or skier in the Open, Sport or Women’s Division. Compete for more than $3,500 in cash and prizes. See more at SandpointSkijoring.com.
Saturday, February 15
SnowSchool Experience
Schweitzer Mountain Fire Station, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., FREE, 8 years or older, parents/guardians encouraged to attend, Space is limited and pre-registration required
SOLE will be offering FREE SnowSchool Experience programming as part of Sandpoint’s Winter Carnival! In conjunction with our partners at the Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA), this program is part of the nations largest on-snow winter ecology program. The primary goal is to provide an affordable and accessible winter outdoor education opportunities for our local area youth in traditional or homeschool settings to get “out and about” to explore > achieve > lead – all while having F-U-N. Guaranteed.
SOLE provides the gear and the outing – prepped and planned. Students experience a fun place-based curriculum that focus on: Winter Ecology, Snow Science & Winter Outdoor Living and Travel Skills
Register online and see more here SoleExperiences.org/contact/register/.
Bonner Mall Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off
Wanted, dead or alive — the best darned chili around! Bonner Mall hosts the Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off with cash prizes for first, second and third place. Schedule is as follows: 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Registration ($5) and start cooking your best chili; 12:30 p.m. – Have your chili ready for tastin’; 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Peoples’ Choice judging followed by awards. Furnish your own cookstove, ingredients, utensils and set-up. Bonner Mall will provide the tables. Please prepare 2 gallons of chili for tasters. Samples are 50 cents each; people may purchase as many tasters as they like. Cooks may enter the day of the competition, or call the Bonner Mall office at 208-263-4272 for more information.
Fun in the Kitchen
Finding Knife Love – 11 a.m. at Fritz’s Frypan
Hands on demonstration of knife techniques and care!
Skijoring
Presented by Mountain Horse Adventures and Trinity at City Beach.
Gates open at 11 a.m. and competition begins at noon, Bonner County Fairgrounds
One horse, one rope, one skier … it’s skijoring and it’s back! Ski Joring made its debut in Sandpoint three years ago, combining two favorite action pastimes, skiing and horseback riding, Ski Joring is an action-packed Scandinavian sport that involves horses and riders pulling skiers at high speeds around a course of jumps and gates. Did we just mix barrel bacing with slalom ski racing? Ski Joring is an equally exciting spectator show for the entire family. Trinity at City Beach will be on hand serving food and drink. Expect some fun surprises. Best times for the day receive a cash prize. Divisions running will be Open, Sport, and Women’s. More than $3,500 in cash and prizes this year! Admission is $5, but parking and children under 12 are free.
Ski Joring after party at Laughing Dog Brewery 5pm, Beer, Boast and Bark.
See more at SandpointSkijoring.com.
Laser Light Show
Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Music over the decades is the theme this year to celebrate Schweitzer’s 50th anniversary. The show starts at 7pm lighting up JR run and sending light beams throughout the village. The show is followed by a party in Taps.
Sleigh Ride and Dinner Show
Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. This memorable evening begins with a nostalgic horse-drawn sleigh ride powered by one of the ranch’s draft teams. After the ride, enjoy the beauty and comfort of the lodge where you will be served a scrumptious ranch dinner. Conclude the evening with live musical entertainment. Sleigh rides at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., and music with Darin Hilderbrand from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are required and limited. Cost for the evening is $42.50 per person for adults, and $30.00 for kids 6-12, 5 and under are free. Call Janice at 208-263-9066 for reservations. See more at WesternPleasureRanch.com.
Sunday, February 16
Skijoring
Gates open at 11 a.m. and competition begins at noon, Bonner County Fairgrounds
Skijoring continues for the second day as participants try to combine their two-day times for the big prize money. (See listing for Saturday, above, for more details). Divisions running will be Open, Sport and Women’s. Admission is $5, but parking and children under 12 are free. See more at SandpointSkijoring.com.
Schweitzer Events
- Cross-country race
- Celebrate the 80’s in Taps at Schweitzer! What’s not to love about the decade that brought us fabulous music, outfits and hairdos! No cover.
Fat Bike Poker Ride
Sponsored by Western Pleasure Guest Ranch and Greasy Fingers Bikes N Repair.
Registration starts at 11 a.m. and competition begins at noon, Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. Come ride the trails at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch, located just 16 miles NE Of Sandpoint. For more information, please click here to view their flyer.
Sleigh Ride and Dinner Show
Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. This memorable evening begins with a nostalgic horse-drawn sleigh ride powered by one of the ranch’s draft teams. After the ride, enjoy the beauty and comfort of the lodge where you will be served a scrumptious ranch dinner. Conclude the evening with live musical entertainment. Sleigh rides at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., and music with Devon Wade from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations are required and limited. Cost for the evening is $42.50 per person for adults, and $30.00 for kids 6-12, 5 and under are free. Call Janice at 208-263-9066 for reservations. See more at WesternPleasureRanch.com.
Wednesday, February 19
KPND Ski Party – Annual 2/19 Party
10 a.m. to close, The 219 Bar and Lounge, 219 N. First Ave. – Food and drink specials at Sandpoint’s only “5 star dive bar” … serving Sandpoint for more than 75 years.
Thursday, February 20
Taste of Sandpoint
The Hive, 207 N. First Ave. – Join the ravenous masses at this hugely popular Winter Carnival event! More than a dozen restaurants offer up tasty samples of their best specialties at bite-sized prices. Tickets are available at the door for $1 each; the average sample dish, brew or glass of wine is $3 to $7. Check out the Dine Around Sandpoint monthlong promotion while at this event. See more at DineAroundSandpoint.com.
Friday, February 21
Parade of Lights & Cirque de Sandpoint
Downtown Sandpoint
Back by popular demand! It’s the return of the wild ‘n’ crazy Winter Carnival Parade with its legions of zany floats, marching groups and, quite possibly, the World’s Longest Knit Cap (which stretches a good block long). It kicks off at 5:30pm. Calling all groups who would like to participate in the Parade of Lights! All are welcome — floats, groups, even snow plows! Entrance fee is $25. Registration has been extended to Tuesday, February 18th for floats and parade entries. For details call the Sandpoint Chamber at 208-263-2161, or click to download the registration form now»
Cirque de Sandpoint - A silk aerial performance, fire dancing as well as a local dance troupe performance. All happening at Jeff Jones Square, right after the parade.
After-Parade Party
After the parade, head to Trinity at City Beach; featuring live music from 9:30 p.m. to midnight with Sandpoint’s very own Devon Wade!
Saturday, February 22
Showshoe or Walk on the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail
Come enjoy Sandpoint’s newest trail with a snowshoe or walk (depending on conditions) along the shores of Lake Pend Oreille at 9 am on Saturday, Feb 22.
Hosted by the Friends of the Pend d’Oreille Bay Trail, this will be a guided hike or snowshoe along the 3 mile (roundtrip) trail. We will meet at the City Beach Parking lot and either walk or carpool to the trail head just past the Edgewater Resort and Season’s Condos. This hike is open to all ages. Please dress for the wet and cold weather.
Contact Jan Griffitts for more information or to sign up. 208-290-1973.
SnowSchool Experience
Schweitzer Mountain Fire Station, 9:30 a.m. – 11 a.m., FREE, 8 years or older, parents/guardians encouraged to attend, Space is limited and pre-registration required
SOLE will be offering FREE SnowSchool Experience programming as part of Sandpoint’s Winter Carnival! In conjunction with our partners at the Winter Wildlands Alliance (WWA), this program is part of the nations largest on-snow winter ecology program. The primary goal is to provide an affordable and accessible winter outdoor education opportunities for our local area youth in traditional or homeschool settings to get “out and about” to explore > achieve > lead – all while having F-U-N. Guaranteed.
SOLE provides the gear and the outing – prepped and planned. Students experience a fun place-based curriculum that focus on: Winter Ecology, Snow Science & Winter Outdoor Living and Travel Skills
Register online and see more here SoleExperiences.org/contact/register/.
Let It Glow Fireworks Show! Winter Carnival Finale
All-day celebration at Schweitzer Mountain Resort. Get your neon ski-on by wearing your vintage neon ski apparel – you know, the outfit in the back of the closet that you can’t even imagine wearing again. At 6 p.m., it’s Glow Parade and Fireworks time! This time it is the kids turn to be in the light parade – come up and watch our best little skiers on the mountain. Kids 12 and under are welcome and we will have “glow torches” for the first 100 kids. Parents can ski nearby and the kids must be intermediate or better skiers. This is a great time to bring out all of your battery powered Christmas lights or EL lights to help glow up the village. Fireworks follow, exploding the night with more “glowiness.” After fireworks – what to do? Get lit at the blacklight party in Taps with more glow and more show! See more at Schweitzer.com.
Sunday, February 23
K9 Keg Pull and Family Fun Day
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Evans Brothers Coffee and The Granary
One of Sandpoint’s most endearing and popular events, the annual Eichardt’s K9 Keg Pull is moving this year to the Granary location to combine with Evans Brothers Coffee’s Family Fun Day and The Eureka Institute’s Dodge Ball tournament, making for one big event not to be missed. The Keg Pull starts at 10 a.m., with dogs of all sizes racing down a snow-packed course pulling anywhere from full-size kegs to beer cans, amidst a pandemonium of cheering from the crowd. $5 entry fee goes to the Panhandle Animal Shelter.
A free Neighborhood Coffee Tasting will take place at the Evans Brothers’ Roasting Studio throughout the event, with hot chocolate for the kids. Entertainment for kids of all ages includes the ever-popular Dave Nickodemus Puppet & Magic Show at 1p, Creations and Waldorf School Art Projects, the Eureka Institute’s Dodge Ball tournament at Noon, led by Ric-re-ation Leader, and more.
