MTU Winter Carnival: 101 years of snow statues, broomball and good alumni times
Hancock’s Phi Kappa Tau is on a winning streak. Photo by Visit Keweenaw.
HOUGHTON — Michigan Tech University holds one of the most popular winter festivals in the nation since 1922. Winter Carnival began as a mid-winter circus show for students and now stands as a weeklong series of fun events that current Huskies, the community and alumni look forward to each year. It’s an integral part of Keweenaw winters.
Month-Long Statues: The MTU Winter Carnival month-long statues are under construction. These grand displays are done by the fraternities and sororities of Michigan Tech and are graded on a few criteria. The statues will correlate with this year’s theme: “From forests to shores we love the outdoors”. All work must be complete by 9:00 a.m. on Feb. 8, then judging begins. Feb. 8 will be the best day for viewing statues.
Husky Hockey: Catch TWO Husky home games during Winter Carnival. The Huskies take on rival Northern Michigan University on Saturday, Feb. 3 at the John MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Attend another match on Friday, Feb. 9 and see the men’s team play Minnesota State. The puck drops at 6:07 p.m. sharp.
The All-Nighter: Winter Carnival is a multi-day event, but the “All-Nighter” is the one-night last chance to finish and perfect snow statues. Some are built only overnight on campus and are judged separately from the Month-Long Statues. MTU’s “All-Nighter” begins on Feb. 7 and features the famous “free chili”, ice-sculpting and movement until the morning. By 9 a.m. – students are ready for bed with their finished statues.
Broomball: Watch a zany Husky game of broomball from your computer or shuffle over to campus to see the sport in person. Broomball heats up in the rinks on campus near the Rozsa beginning Feb. 4 @ 10 a.m.
Poetry Instead of Comedy: FLIP Fabrique will blow away crowds with its performance of Blizzard: Taking the Stage By Storm. The show brings in performers who are at the peak of their art and outstanding visual poetry to the Rozsa at Michigan Tech during Winter Carnival. Find a sensory friendly showing on Saturday, Feb. 10 @ 2 p.m.
Parade/Fireworks: Watch Mont Ripley Ski Area from wherever you can see at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 10. Marking the end of Winter Carnival, the last spectacle is a torchlight parade and fireworks at Mont Ripley Ski Area. The display is visible from across the canal. Look for the ambient lights on Ripley’s slopes across the Portage.
