The Rossland Winter Carnival is quickly closing in and there is still a huge need for volunteers to help with the many events.
Lisa Wegner, Winter Carnival committee member, is hoping they can fill the remaining spots in the next week or two.
There will be a recruitment table set up at Ferraro Foods on Sunday, Jan. 15 and Thursday, Jan. 19.
This year’s Carnival will feature a blast of fireworks — weather permitting — after the parade at the base of Red Mountain, which can be viewed from downtown.
“Red Mountain is a huge participant and supporter of Carnival,” Wegner said. “They host classic events that make me wish I could be two places at once.”
Wegner did bring some disappointing news that the torch light parade down Red Mountain will not be happening this year. It featured the Red Mountain Racers descending the back of Red with torches to commemorate a route similar to one which Olaus Jeldness took over a hundred years ago.
“Unfortunately due to complications with the logistics of the location, we’re unable to organize that particular event again this year,” Wegner said.
“With it being a longtime tradition and not having it for the last two years, I am a bit disappointed, because the torchlight parade was a magical experience for me. I am confident that next year’s Winter Carnival will be able to coordinate this wonderful tradition.”
Wegner said that at the end of the Winter Carnival parade, which goes down Columbia on Friday, Jan. 27, participants will have a chance to win a season’s pass to Red Mountain Resort. “I am grateful that Red Mountain has donated a season’s pass. It certainly pulls in participants to join the parade.”
On the event front, kids who want to participate in the GT racer or snowmobile events will have to get a waiver filled out and signed by a parent.
The waivers can be picked up beforehand at the Rossland Chamber of Commerce. Parents can also fill out a waiver at the event, but will have to accompany their child with ID. Wegner also wanted to remind anyone who will be taking in the beer garden festivities that “people under 25 must have two pieces of ID.”
There will also be surprise guests at the carnival.
“We have 30 descendants of Olaus Jeldness in the Winter Carnival parade,” she said.
“Currently the Spirit of Red Social Club Society, which is working on the bronze Olaus statue, is recruiting its own take of the ‘101 Elvises’. They’re trying to work up 101 Olauses. I like that.”
For those who haven’t yet become a friend with Olaus on Facebook, Wegner hopes they do. “Olaus Jeldness has a great following on Facebook and it would be fabulous to see more people get on board with it,” she said. “He’s 154 years old and loves the company.”
Wegner also said that those who want to volunteer, but may not have a full day to do so, can look at the schedule of events on www.rosslandwintercarnival.com.
“Any amount of time that volunteers can put it, we really appreciate,” Wegner added.