The Winter Carnival

For the last however many non-COVID years*, the town has held what they refer to as a "Winter Carnival". This is not the kind of carnival that involves animals- circus or otherwise. There are no amusement rides (unless you count sledding). There are no jugglers or acrobats or clowns or anything even close to those type of things.

It is, thankfully, a much lower-key event. 

Here is a description of events, taken from their website, for their next carnival, currently scheduled for next February 2nd thru the 4th (mark your calendars):

Ice Sculpture Contests, Fireworks, Parade of Lights, Glow Party, Family Activities, Donuts with Olaf, Mad Science Show, Jigsaw Puzzle Contest, Cribbage Tournament, Cardboard Sled Race, K9 Keg Pull, Chili Cook Off, Vintage Snowmobiles, Sledding, Ice Skating, and so much more!

(*The website claims that this will be the 102nd  year for this thing but I'm skeptical. Other than a few foggy, possible hints of a memory (much like everything else in my head), I don't ever remember this being a thing when my three older kids were little. Then again, this is just the kind of thing I might have avoided way back then. Which, I might add, I might even avoid it now except somehow Sam always seems to know about it.)

Anyway, the only things Sam and I are remotely interested it (me being more remote than Sam) are watching the Parade of Lights and walking around looking at the ice sculptures. This is actually more fun than I give it credit for but only because I'm spending the time with Sam. (Sam, on the other hand, is having to spend that time with me.)

The best thing about the parade is that, unlike the Fair Parade, it is mercifully short. And the best thing about the ice sculptures is that they're scattered around town and you walk around looking at them at your leisure, rather than being roped into some kind of tour group with a bunch of people.

Sam had no interest in going to watch the fireworks (and I had no interest in twisting his arm) so after taking in all the excitement, we walked straight home, thus ending our involvement in another year's festivities.

Here are some photos...