In its 48th year, DU’s Winter Carnival will return to Steamboat Springs, the original site of the DU mountain tradition. Sponsored by DU Programs Board (DUPB), the carnival runs Jan. 27–Feb. 3, and is working with a higher budget to attract more students.
“This year is a re-vamping year,” says Shelby Flora, Winter Carnival director. “We really want to bring back school spirit and DU pride and get people involved.”
Last year, 30 students went to the mountain, but this year 219 students are registered for the two-night stay in Steamboat, Flora says.
The change began last spring, when DUPB realized that “our resources — time, money, effort, manpower — were being spread too thin, producing many lackluster programs that did not appeal to the student body as a whole,” Flora explains.
DUPB now concentrates its resources onto fewer programs, focusing on Homecoming, Winter Carnival and May Days.
Flora says her budget increased from last year’s $14,000 to about $20,000 this year, with an additional $10,000 from co-programming campus organizations.
“We have tried to co-program as much as possible,” she says. “It has really made the difference.”
This year’s event includes:
Jan 27
5K Polar Bear Run/Walk, 10 a.m., Washington Park. $15 pre-registration fee, $20 day-of. Participants receive a T-shirt and food, with proceeds benefiting KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy.
Jan. 28
Food from the DU Grilling Society; music by KVDU; ice sculpture demo; hot chocolate from the Public Service Credit Union; 1:30-4:15 p.m., Driscoll Lawn. Cool Runnings (1993) will play in Davis Auditorium at 8 p.m.
Jan. 29
Free ice-skating with the club ice-skating team, Joy Burns Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30
Single-elimination broomball tournament, Joy Burns Arena, 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 31
Pioneers basketball double-header, with prizes announced throughout the men’s and women’s games. The women play at 5 p.m. and the men play at 7:30 p.m. in Magness Arena.
Feb. 1–Feb. 3
On-mountain activities include ice-skating, snowshoeing, hot springs, $10 tubing, $40 lift tickets for undergraduates and a $10 dinner Friday evening at Bear Creek. Hotel rooms for the two nights are available at a discounted rate. Buses leave on Friday at 1 p.m. from Shwayder Art Building and on Sunday at 1 p.m. from Steamboat.