Merry Maker promises rowdy good time
Whitefish Winter Carnival kicks off with what promises to be a rowdy good time at the Jan. 6 Merry Maker — an adults-only party featuring the much-anticipated roast of Whitefish.
“We roast things and people that have been in the news in Whitefish,” said Paul Johannsen, chair of the Whitefish Carnival Board. “It’s R-rated; some would say it maybe should be rated a little more harsh than R — We stop short of nudity.”
The Merry Maker is the first in the series of Whitefish Winter Carnival Events, followed by Jan. 13’s Coronation of King Ullr LIX and Queen of the Snows followed by a disco party that evening beginning at 9 p.m. at the Great Northern Bar.
The carnival itself runs from Feb. 2-4 featuring the costumed frenzy that is the annual Carnival Parade at 3 p.m., Feb. 3 in downtown Whitefish. This year’s grand marshal is renowned British Olympic ski jumper Michael Edwards, also known as Eddie the Eagle. In 1988, Edwards became the first competitor since 1929 to represent Great Britain in Olympic ski jumping. The theme of the 59th annual Winter Carnival is Fly Like An Eagle — a nod to Edwards who’s scheduled to make a number of appearances throughout carnival week and will speak to local high school students.
Each year, a royal carnival court is selected including the King and Queen, Duchess of Lark and a Prime Minister.
At the Merry Maker, the latter two successors will be announced. Outgoing royalty include Ross Strauser as King Ullr LVIII, Sue Strauser as Queen of the Snows, Nick Spear as Prime Minister LVIII and Renee Olson as Duchess of Lark.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for the event at Whitefish Moose Lodge and $25 tickets will include dinner catered by the Whitefish Lake Restaurant along with a night of revelry.
Johannsen said 150 tickets are sold for the Merry Maker and warned Tuesday that they are nearing sold-out status, but can be purchased at Whitefish Credit Union or the Whitefish Chamber of Commerce.
A band of former prime ministers is charged with coming up with the night’s comedic fodder, which they do over the course of six to eight meetings. Attendance at those gatherings can vary based on the amount of Crown Royal promised — the drink of “primes” — Johannsen said jovially.
The roast generally lasts around an hour and a half, and sometimes slightly longer.
“We don’t want people to get tired of us, but so far we’ve never been booed out of the place,” he said.
In addition to the roast, the Merry Maker will also feature a number of skits put on by previously reigning duchesses pior to the reveal of this year’s duchess.
The Merry Maker is an event not to be missed — unless, perhaps, you’re under age 21.
“Don’t bring your kids,” Johannsen said. “You’ll be sorry.”