There's so much going on over the two weekends that make up McCall's Winter Carnival that you've got to choose wisely. And if you don't have a place to stay by now ... well, you'd better plan on making it a day trip.
Here are Scene's picks for the top things to do in McCall during Winter Carnival. Find a schedule at IdahoStatesman.com/WinterCarnival or in a special guide in the Friday, Jan. 25, Idaho Statesman.
DUH! CHECK OUT THE ICE SCULPTURESThe sculptures are arguably the biggest draw at Winter Carnival, as they fill almost every corner of town. The more than 30 sculptures are scattered all over McCall, but most are downtown and along Idaho 55 (3rd Street) as it comes into town. Sculpting teams get started weeks and sometimes months before the carnival begins. This year's theme for the sculptures is the "Wild, Wild West."
If you're there on the second weekend, there's the Idaho Snow Sculpting Championships from noon Jan. 29 to 11 a.m. Feb. 1, when teams have 48 hours to create a sculpture from a big block of ice.
DO THE MARDI GRAS MAMBOThe key for hitting Winter Carnival's biggest event is to make sure you're there early to get a spot. In fact, expect to jockey for a spot with about 10,000 other people. The parade starts at noon Saturday, Jan. 26, downtown. Because this event is certain to be incredibly claustrophobic, you might want to ...
ESCAPE THE CROWDS AND TAKE A QUICK TRIP UP TO BRUNDAGESure, it isn't an official Winter Carnival event, but when in McCall "The slopes are surprisingly uncrowded during Winter Carnival," said Brundage spokeswoman April Russell. Amen to that. After attending the packed Mardi Gras parade, you're going to need a little fresh air. Go up on Saturday, Jan. 26, and catch Boisean Rebecca Scott playing some tunes from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., or catch a head-to-head boardercross-skiercross event Sunday, Jan. 27. Races are at noon and 2 p.m.
ATTEND THE 2007 YELLOW PINE HARMONICA CONTEST AT 2008 WINTER CARNIVALFires in the Payette and Boise national forests pushed off the popular annual harmonica-playing contest in Yellow Pine. The event is being held in conjunction with Winter Carnival from 5 p.m. to midnight Friday, Feb. 1, and Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Pancake and Christmas House (209 N. 3rd St.) Tickets are $10 and available at the door or by calling (208) 630-2025.
MY, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BEARD! AND WHAT HAIRY LEGS!In the annual beard and hairy and sexy legs contests, cash awards and prizes are much less important than bragging rights for an entire year. These contests will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Yacht Club (203 E. Lake St.). Admission is $3.
