Winter Activities in Colorado

Hate your Christmas fruitcake? We know just what to do with it here in Colorado. Been itching to throw a party for a frozen dead guy? We can handle that too. Like traditional winter activities? We've got you covered. Colorado boasts many fun and unique winter activities, which comes in handy if you're like me and you hate to ski. Check out these winter activities in Colorado.

12th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss

Where: Manitou Springs, Colorado
Manitou Springs High School track

When: January 7, 2007
9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Entry fee: One canned food item or other non-perishable food item

Information: Find out more about this winter activity by calling the Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau at 719-685-5089 or 1-800-642-2567

www.manitousprings.org

Get your fruitcake and get ready to rumble at the 12th Annual Great Fruitcake Toss. If you can't get your own fruitcake, you can rent one for $1.00 a cake. This winter activity begins with registration from 9:30 am. - 10:30 a.m., followed by a media toss, a kids' fruitcake performance, and a fruitcake toss for both kids and adults. Then be prepared for the Glamour competition. Prizes will be given for the most beautiful fruitcake, ugliest fruitcake, most creative use of a fruitcake, and fruitcake that has traveled the greatest distance. At 11:00 a.m., the hurl, launch, and pneumatics competition begins. This is where you can make your own fruitcake launching devices. Just remember, GPS will be used this year to measure distance exactly. There is a set of fruitcake rules detailing weight of fruitcake and types of launching devices. Go to the website mentioned above to find out all the details of this unique winter activity in Colorado.

Frozen Dead Guy Days

Where: Nederland, Colorado
17 miles west of and 3,000 feet above Boulder, Colorado

When: March 9-11, 2007

Information: www.nederlandchamber.org
Call the event line at 720-374-6742 to find out more about this winter activity

Yep, it's true - grandpa's still in the Tuff shed. For six years, Nederland has celebrated their only cryogenically frozen resident, Bredo Morstoel, a Norwegian who died in 1989. This internationally known festival makes for a lively weekend of fun events and winter activities. While the 2007 events schedule is not yet released, past years included such events as Grandpa's Blue Ball complete with live band, a Grandpa look-a-like contest, a cryonic parade with antique hearses and coffin races, and a frozen t-shirt contest. On Saturday and Sunday mornings, festival-goers enjoyed a pancake breakfast and then watched a free film entitled "Grandpa's Still in the Tuff Shed". Last year, you could bid on a Tuff shed or two cemetery plots at an auction. Local bars have live music every night. Get more information at the website listed above. Make this a "must do" winter activity in Colorado!

Skate the Lake 2006

Where: Evergreen Lake House and Evergreen Lake
29614 Upper Bear Creek Road
Evergreen, CO 80437

When: January 31, 2006
6:00 p.m. - midnight

Cost: $15 per person; children under 8 free

Information: Call 303-674-9683 to find out more about this winter activity

Every year since 1996, Evergreen/Conifer has hosted a fun and family-friendly event on New Year's Eve. The entire community celebrates the evening with ice-skating, music, and two fireworks shows (8:00 p.m. and midnight). While ice-skating, you can get warm and roast marshmallows at one of several 55-gallon drums filled with firewood, enjoy music provided by a DJ, or stop at a picnic table on the lake to enjoy food prepared by local vendors. Your family can take a sleigh ride over the ice or play a game of pick-up hockey at a smaller frozen pond nearby. Skate the Lake 2006 is an alcohol-free event. This is a great family-oriented winter activity in Colorado!

Budweiser Select International Snow Sculpture Championships

Where: Breckenridge, Colorado
In the center of town next to the Riverwalk Center

When: Viewing is January 28 - February 4, 2007
Sculpting is January 23 - 27, 2007

Cost: Free to the public, although there is some paid parking

Information: www.gobreck.com or call 1-888-251-2417 for more information on this winter activity

For the 17th year, Breckenridge will host a snow sculpture competition. Artists from all over the world carve twenty-ton, 12-foot-tall blocks of snow into pieces of art using their own two hands along with lots of inspiration, creativity, and permitted hand tools. Representing 10 countries, 14 teams of four people each will spend a week, 65 hours total, creating a unique sculpture. A panel of artists gives awards to the top four teams based on theme, style, and technique. Past snow sculptures have included a dog looking at himself in the mirror, a farmer and his barn, loons on a summer lake, and many beautiful abstract shapes. The sculptures will stay on display until February 4. This is one of the most amazing winter activities in Colorado.

As you can see, our Colorado mountain towns host many unique and fun winter activities, both for adults and for families. Save that fruitcake!