Winter Carnival: It's All About the Snow

There will be no shortage of construction material for Michigan Technological University’s 2014 Winter Carnival.

More than 100 inches of snow have fallen this season, and mounds of the white stuff dot campus, more than enough for student organizations to build their signature statues of snow and ice. The theme: “Nostalgic Films of Childhood Days, Come to Life in Frosty Ways.”

The Winter Carnival recess is officially Wednesday-Saturday, Feb. 5-9. The All-Nighter kicks off at 4 p.m., Feb. 5, when students put in a final push on their statues before judging the following morning. Crowds of people wander campus, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying music and camaraderie. Eventually, they drift home, leaving students to labor until the statue-building deadline, 8 a.m.

Thursday morning, visitors flock to campus to see the snowy dioramas. Among the entertainment offerings and sleigh rides, and sled dog rides are available beginning at 3 p.m., Feb. 6-9, near Douglass Houghton Hall.

Winter Carnival, sponsored by Blue Key, is about much more than statues, however.  A schedule highlighting upcoming events is below. You can also learn more at www.mtu.edu/carnival.

Thursday, Jan. 30
Blood drive, Michigan Tech vs. Northern Michigan University, Wadsworth Hall Annex and G17/G18

Saturday, Feb. 1
Ice Fishing Contest, 8 a.m., check-in at Sigma Rho house in Chassell
Queen’s Coronation, 7 p.m., Rozsa Center
The eight queen candidates perform the talent portion of the competition, and the winner is crowned.

Thursday, Feb. 6
Beards Competition, 1 p.m., Room 135, Fisher Hall
Students have been growing facial hair practically since Thanksgiving and will be judged on a variety of factors, including “creativity of presentation.”
Banner Contest, 2 p.m., MacInnes Student Ice Arena
Banners related to school spirit will be judged by the Athletics Department.
Stage Review, 7 p.m., Rozsa Center
Student organizations have been working for weeks to put together the productions known on campus as “skits.”
“Rose and the Rime,” 7:30 p.m., McArdle Theatre
This modern fairy tale of courage and hope is presented by the Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

Friday, Feb. 7
Meet Blizzard, noon, main campus.
Winter Carnival Hockey, Tech vs. Alabama-Huntsville, 7:07 p.m., MacInnes Ice Arena
“Rose and the Rime,” 7:30 p.m., McArdle Theatre
Comedian Bob Saget, 10:30 p.m., Rozsa Center

Saturday, Feb. 8
Bigfoot Snowshoe, 8 a.m., Boss Waxing Shed, Tech Trails
2K, 4K and 6K events. Free snowshoe rental; registration as low as $10 includes a free long-sleeved T-shirt.
Meet Blizzard, 11:30 a.m., main campus
Winter Carnival Hockey, Tech vs. Alabama, 5:07 p.m., MacInnes Student Ice Arena
Fireworks and Torchlight Parade, 8:30 p.m., Mont Ripley Ski Hill
Awards Ceremony and Snowball Dance, 9 p.m., Memorial Union Ballroom

STUDENT COMPETITIONS

Throughout Carnival, student groups compete with surprising intensity in a number of sports you won’t see just anywhere. Check them out at the places and times below.

Alumni-Student Broomball Invitational—broomball courts
Skateless students and former students go to battle armed with duct-taped brooms.
Friday, Feb. 7, 2 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m. (championship)

Broomball—broomball courts
Sunday, Feb. 2, 8 a.m.

Ice bowling—Dee Stadium
Wednesday, Jan. 29, 10:30 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 30, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 9:30 p.m.

Curling—Calumet Drill House
Friday, Jan. 31, 6 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.

Skating—Dee Stadium
Saturday, Feb. 1, 8 a.m.

Snow volleyball—Lowest practice field, west of the Portage Lake Health offices in the Student Development Complex
Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.
Friday, Feb. 7, 10 a.m.

Cross-country skiing—Michigan Tech Trails
Saturday, Feb. 1, 1 p.m.

Yooper Sprint—Lowest practice field
A ski, a snowshoe, no fear of falling.
Saturday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m.

Human Dogsled Race—Lowest practice field
Just like it sounds.
Friday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.

Tug-o-war—Lowest practice field
Friday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m.

Downhill skiing—Mont Ripley Ski Hill
Friday, Feb. 7, 12:30 p.m.

Snowboarding—Mont Ripley Ski Hill
Friday, Feb. 7, 3 p.m.

Fat Tire Relay Race—Parking Lot 11, near the Memorial Union
Wednesday, Feb. 5, 7 p.m.

“Ender’s Game,” Film Board’s Winter Carnival Film—Fisher Hall, Room 135
Friday, Feb. 7: 6, 8:30 and 11 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 8: 6 and 8:30 p.m.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan’s flagship technological university offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.