Yee-ha!
Put on your cowboy duds, mardi-gras beads and snow boots (leave the shootin’ irons at home) — it is time for the rootin’, tootin’ McCall Winter Carnival.
The carnival is a conglomeration of dozens of events from ice sculpture competitions for fun, money and competitive prizes to a Mardi Gras Parade; from a beard and sexy (and hairy) leg contest to fireworks; there’s a pancake breakfast, snowshoe golf — and more, more, more.
It kicks off Thursday, Jan. 24, and runs until the closing ceremonies on Sunday, Feb. 3.
This year’s theme is “Wild, Wild West” so get ready for bigger-than-life, wild and wooly ice sculptures.
You could see John Wayne or Clint Eastwood, the shootout at the O.K. Corral or Yosemite Sam.
The theme is a nod to the rebel, an ode to the Idaho outlaw in all of us, and reflective of the spirit of McCall, according to Tamara Sandmeyer, executive director of McCall Chamber of Commerce.
‘Nuff said about the same-old, same-old — here’s what’s new for 2008.
Howdy Yellow Pine The 2007 Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival got waylaid by a hungry, mean old varmint last August. The Landmark Complex fire nearly ate everything in front of it, including the town of Yellow Pine, and it devoured all hope for the annual mouth harp celebration, competition and all-out toe-tappin’, foot-stompin’ jamboree.
But like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the 2007 Yellow Pine Harmonica Festival lives on. It will join forces with the Winter Carnival and will take up temporary lodging 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Feb. 1 and Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Pancake and Christmas House in McCall.
The knee-slappin,’ harmonica-playing fun will be focused this year on entertainment — harmonica artist Dennis Cooper is the headliner. Hamburgers, beer and T-shirts will be sold, too. Ten bucks will get you in the door — if it is sold-out, just wait a spell, the crowd is expected to ebb and flow, says Steve Holloway, chairman of the event and owner of the general store in Yellow Pine.
Most of the action will take place inside the Pancake House, but “that’s not to say there won’t be some playin’ outside, too,” Holloway says. “It’s kind of weather dependent, I guess.”
And, beginner or not “if you’ve got a harp, bring it on up,” Holloway says. Jam sessions are prone to erupt just about anywhere.
All the proceeds will go back to the businesses of Yellow Pine that lost money not only on the festival in August that never happened but also from crippling effects of the fire.
“We lost power for a month. The roads didn’t open up until the middle of September,” Holloway says. “On Labor Day we were fighting fires instead of courting customers.”
With the help of the Pancake House owners Bonnie and George Bertram, the city of McCall and the Winter Carnival, the Harmonica Festival hopes to host the party back home in Yellow Pine come August 2008.
The more the merrierBesides the harmonica festival, there are a few other “new kids” in town and a couple of new tricks.
• For the first time, there will be Kick-off Gala Thursday at Great Escape, McCall’s “newest night club.” It’s a kick-up-your-heels and dance event, complete with music and a DJ. Bust a move and put those “Dancing With the Stars” hoofers to shame. $10 to party down.
• Another newcomer is Comedy Night on Friday featuring the adults-only humor of comedian Jim Trino. Tickets are $20, online, at the door or at the McCall Chamber of Commerce.
• Other new additions include a third firework show. A $25 ticket will get you in to a wine and art jubilee, a keepsake wine glass and hors d’ouveres.
• Others are extreme movie nights, $10, a ski free at the Jug day, a backyard barbecue and McCall Winter Carnival 2008 special commemorative pins. The pins cost eight bits — that’s $2 to you city folks — and if you wear ’em you can get discounts in businesses, eateries and entertainment venues all over town.
Jeanne Huff: 377-6483
