Colorado.com Staff Writer

DFP Leaderboard: Article

<p>We don’t head inside when the weather gets cold and the snow starts falling — we celebrate with special Colorado events! Winter carnivals, ice-carving competitions and lighting ceremonies are some of the ways we live the season to the fullest.</p>
<p>Want event more? Visit our <a href="/events">Colorado events calendar</a></p>


Winter Events in Colorado

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Breckenridge Snow Sculpture Competition

Alamosa Rio Frio 5k

12 Days of Aspen Winter Festival

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<h2>Winter Carnivals in Colorado</h2>
<p>Coloradans consider winter our most magical season, and we love to celebrate all that comes with it at winter carnivals across the state.</p>
<h3>Breckenridge ULLR Fest</h3>
<p>Snow lovers celebrate Norse mythology during the annual December <a href="https://gobreck.com/event/ullr-fest">Ullr Fest</a>. Here you'll find revelers dressed as Vikings, a downtown <a href="/cities-and-towns/breckenridge">Breckenridge</a> parade and bonfire, a town-wide talent show, the Ullr Ice Plunge, ice skating and fat-bike racing.</p>
<h3>Wintersköl in Aspen</h3>
<p><a href="https://aspenchamber.org/events/winterskol">Wintersköl</a>, <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/aspen">Aspen</a>'s December "toast to winter" dates back to 1951 when locals began celebrating the town's unique Nordic lifestyle. The four-day fest features on-mountain activities, film screenings, a winterfest, broomball and fat-biking competitions, and much more.</p>
<h3>UllrGrass in Golden</h3>
<p>Put on your faux fur and Viking horns for January's <a href="http://www.ullrgrass.com/">UllrGrass</a>: a family-friendly winter music and beer fest surrounded by the beauty of the Rocky Mountain foothills in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/golden">Golden</a>. Highlights include a costume contest, music from local and national bluegrass musicians and tons of local food and craft vendors.</p>
<h3>Pagosa Springs' Winterfest</h3>
<p>Are you brave enough to submerge yourself in the San Juan River's Penguin Plunge? Test your skills in January's Anything Goes Downhill Sled Race or sit back and watch the mass ascension of hot-air balloons during <a href="http://pagosachamber.com/winterfest/">WinterFest</a> in <a href="http://www.colorado.com/pagosa-springs-channel">Pagosa Springs</a>.</p>
<h3>Steamboat Springs' Winter Carnival</h3>
<p><a href="/cities-and-towns/Steamboat-Springs">Steamboat</a> has reveled in their bounty of trademark Champagne Powder® since 1914. The February <a href="http://www.sswsc.org/events/winter-carnival">winter carnival</a> features ski-jumping competitions, dog-sled pulls, cross-country obstacle races and a spectacular fireworks display.</p>
<h3>Ski Joring &amp; Crystal Carnival in Leadville</h3>
<p>Fearless skiers connected by towrope to a horse and rider galloping at top speed navigate an obstacle course, and it all takes place in the middle of <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/leadville">Leadville</a> each March. Along with ski joring, the <a href="https://www.leadvilletwinlakes.com/category-display/leadville-ski-joring-crystal-carnival-weekend">lively celebration</a> also boasts a winter carnival and other snowy activities.</p>


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<h2>Colorado Snow &amp; Ice Festivals</h2>
<p>Though they don’t linger too long during Colorado’s sunny winter months, frozen masterpieces created by gifted ice artisans leave a lasting impression.</p>
<h3>Ouray Ice Festival</h3>
<p>Though it’s an <a href="http://ourayicepark.com/ouray-ice-festival/">ice festival</a> of a different sort, <a href="/cities-and-towns/Ouray">Ouray</a>’s January celebration is one of the most spectacular. Each year, thousands of climbers descend on the town to ascend the Ouray Ice Park’s mile-long frozen gorge, while spectators watch in amazement.</p>
<h3>Rio Frio Ice Fest</h3>
<p>At the January <a href="https://rioraces.com/rio-frio-home">Rio Frio Ice Fest</a>, scavenger hunts, snowman-building contests, the Rio Frio 5k and a fire-and-ice party celebrate winter in <a href="/cities-and-towns/alamosa">Alamosa</a>.</p>
<h3>International Snow Sculpting Championship</h3>
<p>Each January, teams from around the world flock to the week-long <a href="http://gobreck.com/event/international-snow-sculpture-championships">International Snow Sculpting Championship</a> in <a href="/cities-and-towns/Breckenridge">Breckenridge</a> to gently coax intricate sculptures out of 20-ton blocks of snow.</p>
<h3>Lake City Ice Climbs Festival</h3>
<p>Top-roped and lead-speed climbing competitions take place on <a href="/cities-and-towns/lake-city">Lake City</a>'s beautiful blue wall of ice at the <a href="https://www.lakecityice.com/festival">Ice Climbs Festival</a> each February.</p>
<h3>Cripple Creek Ice Festival</h3>
<p>Artists deftly use chainsaws to carve clear creations along <a href="/cities-and-towns/cripple-creek">Cripple Creek</a>’s main street in February, while families frolic through an ice maze and sip hot chocolate at the annual <a href="https://www.visitcripplecreek.com/event/2023-ice-festival/">Cripple Creek Ice Festival</a>. As an added bonus, the town is also home to the <a href="https://icecastles.com/colorado/">Ice Castles</a> — stunning palaces made of thousands of icicles with slides, tunnels, sculptures and more.  </p>
<h2>Ski &amp; Snowboard Competitions</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.aspensnowmass.com/visit/events/x-games-aspen">X Games Aspen</a>: January</li>
<li><a href="https://www.thesnowleague.com/">The Snow League</a> in Aspen: March</li>
<li><a href="https://www.aspensnowmass.com/while-you-are-here/events/audi-power-of-four-ski-mountaineering">Audi Power of Four Ski Mountaineer Race</a> in <a href="https://www.colorado.com/cities-and-towns/snowmass">Snowmass</a>: February</li>
</ul><h2>Colorado Holiday Events</h2>
<ul><li><a href="https://www.christkindlmarketdenver.com">Denver Christkindl Market</a>: Nov.–Dec.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.estesparkeventscomplex.com/catch-the-glow-parade.html">Estes Park's Catch the Glow Celebration</a>: Nov.</li>
<li><a href="https://oldegoldenchristmas.com/">Olde Golden Christmas</a> in <a href="/cities-and-towns/Golden">Golden</a>: Nov.–Dec.</li>
<li><a href="https://boulderdowntown.com/light-up-the-holidays/events/snow-much-fun">Downtown Boulder's Snow Much Fun</a>: Nov.–Jan.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.winterindenver.com/parade">Denver Parade of Lights</a>: Dec.</li>
<li><a href="https://cupresents.org/performance/3035/cu-holiday-festival/2024-holiday-festival/">CU Presents: Boulder Holiday Festival</a>: Dec.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.historicgeorgetown.org/georgetown-christmas-market-2/">Georgetown Christmas Market</a> in <a href="/cities-and-towns/Georgetown">Georgetown</a>: Dec.</li>
</ul><h2>Want More?</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/colorados-iconic-winter-events-celebrations">Discover iconic winter events &amp; celebrations</a><br /><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/colorado-festivals-holiday-lighting">Check out Colorado holiday-lighting festivals </a><br /><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/holiday-markets-colorado">Shop holiday markets</a><br /><a href="http://www.colorado.com/articles/winter-train-trips-colorado">Climb aboard these winter train trips</a></p>
<p><a href="/events">Colorado events calendar</a></p>
