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Winter carnival events start today

The Rossland Winter Carnival begins today and there are many events to take part in.

The Rossland Winter Carnival begins today and there are many events to take part in or enjoy from the sidelines.

Later this evening, the Nelson and District Credit Union Variety Show is at the Rossland Secondary auditorium.

The show officially starts at 7 p.m., but there is a pre-show at 6:30 p.m. with Richie Mann and the Golden City Fiddlers.

“There’s such a wide range of entertainment,” said Lisa Henderson, who runs the show. “We have about 20 acts of all ages. There’s dance, musical theatre, soloists.”

They held two night of auditions to get through all the potential acts. She also scouted some of the acts at events like the Joe Hill Coffeehouse.

“We tried to squeeze in as many acts as possible, because it’s a variety show,” she said.

A gymnastic group made up of grade 6 and 7 students will be one of the featured acts.

Friday morning, Canada AM will be filming on location from 2:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.

The town will be bustling, with volunteer organizations about town, bobsleds on display and music going on. The Rail Jam will also be happening downtown.

Deanne Stevens, from Tourism Rossland, is still hoping that more people come to show the Rossland spirit at those early hours.

Stevens is also hoping for more snowboarders and skiers to get in on the early morning Rail Jam.

It could be an opportunity to be featured on national TV.

There will also be many retailers open for the event.

At 1 p.m. on Friday, the King of the Mountain ski, telemark and snowboard race takes place on Red Mountain.

The event challenges the racers to excel in all three disciplines.

Learn to Luge also starts at that time on Red. Bring snowboots and a helmet and prepare for some speed.

At 6:30 p.m. the 116th Carnival Parade is happening downtown. The parade begins at the corner of Columbia and Butte.

After the parade, the Olaus Ice Palace is featuring live music and DJs from 6-11 p.m.

On Saturday, the firefighters will be putting on a pancake breakfast at the fire hall.

Then at 9:30 a.m. the Sonny Samuelson Bobsled Race down Spokane Street begins.

There are many other events going around town Saturday.

On Sunday, the day starts with the Olaus Invitational Luge Race at Red Mountain. Participants must qualify in the Learn to Luge events on Friday and Saturday to participate.

The John Heintz Relay Race begins at 1 p.m. It’s a race form the top of Red Mountain to the Lions Campground.

In the afternoon, Norwegian journalist Svein Saeter and Rossland born historian Ron Shearer will talk about Olaus Jeldness from their two unique perspectives- Norwegian and North American.

The presentation starts at 3 p.m. at the Prestige.

For a more detailed itinerary, go to www.rosslandwintercarnival.com, or see schedules printed in the Rossland News and West Kootenay Advertiser.