For more than half a century the small 3,000 person hamlet of McCall welcomes over 60,000 visitors annually. The ten day McCall Winter Festival starts at the end of January and features a myriad of events like the legendary ice sculpture contest, a dog sled race that gets you into the Iditarod, and even a fireworks display.
A Celebration Of All Things Winter
To say this event is popular is an understatement. If you do plan on heading to the McCall Winter Festival be sure to plan ahead because lodging books up very quickly. Once in McCall the list of events can be a bit overwhelming. Nearly every minute of the day there are one or two cool things going down somewhere. For the authentic McCall Winter Carnival feel keep your eyes peeled for the Mardi Gras parade. Have the kids along? The Torchlight Parade is then a must. A mixture of firefighters, parents, and children all decked out with lit torches, glow sticks, and strobe lights. It’s a tradition that’s been around since pretty much the beginning and it takes place right before the massive fireworks show.
If you want to learn about the history of the McCall Winter Festival and the top 5 must see events at the carnival be sure to read our in-depth article: McCall Winter Carnival – The Cure For Cabin Fever.
