Ultimate Guide: McCall Winter Carnival (2024)
The Best Rental Cabins, Homes, Lakefront Estates and Romantic Getaways in McCall, Donnelly, Cascade & New Meadows
Once a sleepy town, McCall has become one of the most visited areas in Idaho State, especially during the McCall Winter Carnival! This picturesque town has spectacular mountain views, hugs the extensive 5,330 acre Payette Lake, and offers a small-town vibe even during high visitation. What more could you want? A celebration of all things winter, of course!
Experience winter in a whole new light and spend each night cozied up by the fire or soaking away the winter chills in your hot tub at one of McCall’s lakefront cabin rentals – the perfect home base for the McCall Winter Carnival!
Photo Credit: Krisjan Hiner via Flickr CC2.0
Established in 1924, the 2024 McCall Winter Carnival will be its 100th anniversary. This clever idea was first created to help locals beat the winter blues, and it was an immediate hit! Soon, visitors from other parts of the state and even the country were making their way to McCall, Idaho, to celebrate.
Throughout the years, the carnival has seen many changes. By 1990, the winter carnival had gone from a two-day event focusing on skiing to a 10-day extravaganza with a Mardi-gras parade and all. This year, the McCall Winter Carnival changes once more to fit the needs of the people and keep up with its tradition of change.
As exciting as the McCall Winter Carnival sounds, it doesn’t change the fact that you’ll be experiencing the winter season in the mountains of Idaho. In other words, bundle up! McCall sees more than 25 feet of snow yearly, so snowy conditions are common. Dress in layers, wear the proper footwear, and use caution when navigating the sidewalks!
Keeping with the “Perfect Winter Vacation in the Mountains” theme, ditch the boring hotel reservations and stay in a cozy, rustic cabin instead! Whether you want to bring the whole family or hope for something more intimate, your dream cabin is waiting for you in McCall. Hot tubs, waterfront views, fireplaces, and more. Book the perfect winter with DoneRight Management!
The 2024 McCall Winter Carnival is debuting a new event schedule with the same great events piled up in three days of non-stop fun! A once 10-day event ensures that a weekend in McCall is enough time to see it all!
Photo Credit: cifraser1 via Flickr CC2.0
One of the best things to do during the McCall Winter Carnival is to check out all the sculptures! Pour yourself some hot chocolate (or maybe a hot toddy) and see what all the fuss is about. Every year, local businesses give it their all and create a variety of ice and snow sculptures in hopes of winning the grand prize!
The theme for the snow sculptures is always changing, so businesses have to create a new design every year. Last year, the theme was “Fairy Tales, Folk Tales, and Tall Tales”. With castles, magical creatures, villages, and more, it’s no wonder why the snow sculpture contest was so fierce! Who knows what fun theme the festival has up its sleeve this year?
Head to the main stage to dance the night away! The fun usually starts around 5 PM and even when the music stops, the party doesn’t end. Enjoy live music from local bands, and then head down to Payette Lake for a bonfire social.
A variety of local businesses, like the Salmon River Brewery and the Scandia Inn, also offer live music throughout the weekend, so be sure to check out the event schedule to maximize your jam sessions!
Not ready to turn in for the night? Head to the Yacht Club to keep the good times rolling throughout the night with a DJ dance party.
Photo Credit: Brent via Flickr CC2.0
Ever since the McCall Winter Carnival introduced its Mardi Gras Parade back in 1990, it has been a fan favorite. Get a taste of New Orleans as you cheer on your favorite float and stand penguin style with friends to keep warm. Just make sure you have somewhere to put all the candy that gets tossed your way!
Right before the grand fireworks display over Payette Lake, there is also the children’s torchlight parade. Once night falls, all of the children from the community get together to light up the town as they march down the main street in preparation for the festival’s closing ceremony. But the fun doesn’t stop there!
Are you really at a winter carnival if there isn’t an epic beer garden? Beer and winter festivals are like mashed potatoes and gravy, they just go together! And with 100 years in the making, the McCall Winter Carnival knows a thing or two about beer. Hang out at the beer garden while listening to music on the main stage, partake in a classic pub crawl, or head to a local brewery for something a bit more crafty. The options are endless!
Whatever you do, just make sure to swing by the vendor court in between drinks to help you make it through the night. With a large variety of local food trucks to choose from, you might even want to consider a truck crawl!
For only eight dollars a person, what better way to start your day than with pancakes? Fuel up for a day of excitement with a big plate of everyone’s favorite breakfast. Who knows? You might even make some new friends! The town-wide breakfast is part of the carnival’s tradition and promotes the idea that everyone attending is just one big family. Once you are full and ready, head to the streets to watch the famous Mardi Gras Parade!
Photo Credit: Brent via Flickr CC2.0
Whether you want to hop in on the fun or cheer teams from the sideline, the Payette Lake Winter Games will surely be one of your favorite things at the festival!
The entire weekend will be jampacked with competitions ranging from Mcpaw’s Monster Dog Sled Pull to the traditional snow bike race around the lake. Hop on a snowmobile, play some snowshoe golf, or try your luck at grand bingo. There are plenty of ways to engage! You can even join in on the raffle for a chance to win exciting prizes like a Polaris 800!
McCall, Idaho, has hit the map! This exciting winter carnival has doubled its visitation in recent years, and to ensure the same great quality, the 2024 winter carnival will look a bit different than last year.
Starting in 2024, the McCall Winter Carnival will only last one weekend. This means all the winter carnival fun can be conquered in just three days! The carnival will now be held during the last weekend in February.
There is never a bad time to visit McCall, but visiting during the McCall Winter Carnival will take your experience to a whole different level. From your cozy cabin rental to the fun activities with friends and family, this McCall event has a way of reeling people in. Just don’t be surprised when it becomes a yearly tradition because by closing ceremonies, you will already dream about your next trip back!
