Beads, Beads, and More Beads!
Snowmass To Host Annual Mardi Gras Celebration, February 5, 2008

Snowmass celebrates 26 years of Fat Tuesday revelry with the biggest Mardi Gras bash in the Rockies!

Mardi Gras got its start from native New Orleaners. It starts off with the The Mother of All Ascensions, a wild, costumed, 1,741-foot vertical, uphill race at the crack of dawn. Non-stop action follows all day long, including King Cake giveaways, a bead and prize throw, crawdad boils, live music, a wild costumed parade, mask-making & face painting for kids and partying late into the night at local bars.

Events Schedule
6am-10am
16th annual Mother of All Ascensions Snowshoe Race
The race starts at the crack of dawn from the bottom of Fanny Hill and goes up to Gwyn's High Alpine Restaurant
Description: Racers kick off Mardi Gras with a challenging 1,741-foot climb up Fanny Hill on snowshoes, track skis, hiking boots or running shoes. $15,000 in prizes will be awarded for such categories as best time, worst time, and best costume. COSTUMES ARE HIGHLY ENCOURAGED!
Registration: $35, includes T-shirt & goody bag. Pre register at Christy Sports in Snowmass, The Ute Mountaineer in Aspen, or Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs.
For more information: (250) 266-0022 or (970) 618-2225
Schedule:
5:30 am: Registration at the Snowmass Ticket Pavilion
7 am sharp: Race starts from bottom of Fanny Hill
8:30-10:30am: Awards Ceremony at Gwyn's High Alpine

11 am- 2 am
Crawfish Boil
Where: Zane's Tavern
Description: Party around the clock from opening to closing with Crawfish and hurricane specials, Mardi Gras music & giveaways, and more.
Contact: 970 923-3515
12-till closing Snowmass Party Central: Big Hoss Grill, Mountain Dragon & More
Where: One level above Snowmass Mall
Description: These locals' favorites are packed with crowds and offer prime parade route viewing from their outdoor decks. The Big Hoss goes big with giveaways, music, party favors and specials, while the Mountain Dragon offers free appetizers with the purchase of a drink and plenty of drink specials. Brothers Grille in the Silvertree also fetes Mardi Gras with specials.
Contact:
Big Hoss Grill: 970 923-2597
Mountain Dragon: 970 923-3576
Brothers Grille: 970 923-8285


1p-3 pm
Kids Carnival! Face painters, stilt walkers, clowns and characters lark about the mall spreading
Mardi Gras spirit.

1 pm King Cake
Where: The Snowmass Village Mall, outside Christy Sports
Description: Come grab a slice of delicious free King Cake!

2pm -Closing
The Cirque's Mardi Gras Party
Where: at the Fanny Hill end of the Snowmass Village Mall
Description: Get your fill of Crawdads & Hush Puppies at The Cirque. Then come back later for live music, drink specials, prize giveaways, and wild revelry.
Contact: 970 923-8686

3 pm
What: Fat Tuesday Bead Throw
Where: Snowmass Village Mall just outside Christy Sports
Description: Over 28,000 beads and prizes will be thrown into the crowds during this favorite Mardi Gras tradition that revs up the crowds for the party to follow.

4 pm
What: The annual Snowmass Mardi Gras parade.
Where: Throughout the Snowmass Village Mall
Description: Get ready for the "GREATEST SHOW ON SNOW," the wildest, wackiest parade in the mountains. Kings and queens, mountain jesters, the EL Jebel Shriner Pipe & Drum Band, the Basalt Dance Troupe, jugglers, jokers, and feather-festooned fools strut their big top style through the Snowmass Village mall. The Parade is open both to floats and costumed folks.

Floats: Everyone who participates in float making receives a $100 credit for float supplies. Simply bring in your receipts to the Snowmass Marketing Dept. to be reimbursed. To register a float or costume, stop by the TOSV Marketing Offices in Snowmass to pick up a registration form or call Jacqie Stewart at (970) 618-2225.
Prizes: Best Float: $450, Best Use of Theme (The Greatest Show on Earth): $200, Best Costume: $150.

Après Parade and Evening Parties Into The Night!
Stick around Snowmass, because when the sun goes down, Snowmass remains lit up in the afterglow hues of purple, gold, and green. The Cirque, Zane's Tavern, Big Hoss Grill, Mountain Dragon, and others offer festive Mardi Gras parties into the wee hours.

For more information please visit: http://www.snowmassvillage.com/annual-snowmass-mardi-gras-celebration