Warm weather scales down Whitefish carnival

The Daily Inter Lake

The Whitefish Winter Carnival wraps up this weekend, but some events have been canceled because of a lack of snow.

Among the canceled activities are the skijoring competition at the Whitefish airport, the snowman exhibit planned at Park Side Federal Credit Union and the snow sculpting competition at Mountain Mall.

New this year is the Yeti snow skate competition at Kate Patterson Park on Central Avenue. A jam session is planned at 5:30 p.m. Friday and the main event gets under way after the parade on Saturday afternoon.

Metal rails, wooden boxes, plastic rails and wall features of various levels of difficulty will be featured. A $2 carnival button is required for this event.

The snow skate is open to competitors of all ages. Fee is $15 with registration by Thursday; $25 on or after Friday. Call Paul Coats at 212-7015.

Saturday - the biggest day of Whitefish Winter Carnival - begins with the annual Kiddie Carnival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Central School gymnasium. The Golden Agers senior center offers lunch and live music from noon to 3 p.m.

The Penguin Plunge fund-raiser for Special Olympics commences at 12:30 p.m. at City Beach on Whitefish Lake. To register call Judy Gephart at 863-8888.

Other carnival favorites are the St. Charles Church pie social at 1 p.m., the centennial parade led by grand marshal Ted Lund at 3 p.m. and the Battle of the Bands following the parade at local taverns.

On Big Mountain, a torchlight parade begins at 7 p.m.

On Sunday the annual Whitefish Rotary pancake breakfast is served from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Moose Lodge; cost is $7 for adults; $3.50 for children.

The Nordic ski races are still planned at 1 p.m. Sunday on the Whitefish golf course, but further warm weather could affect the event.