Whitefish Winter Carnival: Organizers put new twist on time-honored event

The frivolity of the annual Whitefish Winter Carnival looks a little different this year.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional carnival events like the Grand Parade have been shelved until next year. However, organizers are planning to continue the tradition of “surviving the gray of middle winter by making merry through a series of interactive challenges” taking place online.

The theme for the LXII Winter Carnival is "Survivor" and features a number of challenges running through the first weekend in February and designed to celebrate the Carnival tradition.

Josh Akey, with the Winter Carnival, said organizers working with Mayor John Muhlfeld and City Manager Dana Smith decided that to keep the safety of the community first, that meant moving to a virtual event this year.

The carnival’s "Survivor" theme is a nod to the reality TV competition series that features a group of contestants deliberately stranded in an isolated location where they must provide food, water, fire and shelter for themselves. The contestants compete in challenges for rewards and immunity from elimination.

Some challenges require artistic talent, such as the Quilt Challenge sponsored by the Whitefish Quilt Store that asks quilters to create a small wall hanging quilt or the Freya’s Art Gallery Challenge that calls for creating an original piece of art depicting any carnival royal or character.

Some challenges have a little fun with the events of 2020. The Great Toilet Paper Challenge asks participants to guess the number of toilet paper rolls in the window of Imagination Station and participants are asked to bring a wrapped roll of toilet paper to donate to the North Valley Food Bank at the end of the challenges.

Rather than ask the community for donations this year, organizers want to drive challenges toward local businesses that have been loyal supporters of the event throughout the years.

The carnival's signature sponsors — Whitefish Mountain Resort, Glacier Bank, Firebrand Hotel and the Don “K” car dealership — stood behind the organization even with the switch to less tangible events than in years past, he noted.

Prizes for some of the different challenges include winning carnival buffs, posters, buttons or necklaces, while others come with cash or gift certificates as prizes.

Akey said while people are obviously disappointed the in-person carnival can’t take place this year, the response to the online challenges already has been positive. The songwriting contest has been drawing submissions from around the country, he noted.

The annual Yeti Doll auction is being held online and the coronation of Prince Frey and Princess Freya will be streamed online.

For detailed information about the challenges and events, visit www.whitefishwintercarnival.com.