Photos courtesy Stowe Winter Carnival
It’s cold outside in January in northern Vermont, so why not celebrate in this winter wonderland? That’s exactly what happens at the Stowe Winter Carnival for most of the month.
The carnival kicks off its 44th season in the village of Stowe on Saturday, January 13. This year, organizers nicknamed the carnival the “StowOlympics” because of some of the wacky activities they’ve conjured up.
So, what can you do? Well, for starters…
Form a team, dress in your zaniest costumes, and play snow golf on an 11-hole course. Maybe later, your team will want to test their skills in the SnowVolleyball Tourney. If not, assemble another team!
Take a moonlight snowshoe tour.
Sing in a karaoke show. Test your knowledge in the trivia challenge. Watch a movie or the politically incorrect version of Hollywood Squares.
Listen to music. Dance. Enjoy local cuisine and brews.
Watch ice carvers create beautiful masterpieces in the annual competition. They’ll also give demos before the competition.
Stowe’s first winter carnival was organized in 1921 by Craig O. Burt, a well-known community leader who wanted to attract visitors to the village to improve the economy and the winter spirit. The first carnival featured ski jumping and tobogganing on a hill behind the public school. The carnival continued to grow every year, and by 1935, it included competitions in alpine and cross-country skiing.
The Stowe Winter Carnival was suspended during World War II and remained dormant until 1974, when a volunteer group revived it. They’ve kept it going since then.
This year’s carnival ends on Saturday, January 27.
For more information, visit the Stowe Winter Carnival’s website. Get driving directions here.
Stowe is a four-hour drive northwest of Boston.
