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ENLARGE
BRECKENRIDGE — A year full of celebrations honoring Breckenridge’s 150th birthday kicks off Sunday with the 46th annual Ullr Fest.
The winter festival — themed “Ullr, the Snow Miner” this year — spans a week full of stimulating activities including a bonfire, a parade and plenty of friendly competition.
“The Ullr parade has always attracted thousands of people, so we’re hoping that this year is just as successful as the previous years,” said Breckenridge Resort Chamber spokeswoman Carly Grimes.
The average parade attendance is about 12,000, and jumped to about 14,000 the year MTV was in town, she said. The Travel Channel, with host Samantha Brown, is planning to attend this year.
Local resident Rob Theobald, who won third place last year for his “Ullr Snowcat Express” float, said the parade is the festival’s best event.
“It’s sort of the unique flavor of the floats,” he said, “a lot of local people just having fun putting something together.”
Theobald, who has celebrated Ullr Fest the past 28 years, may try to work a snowcat into this year’s mining theme.
Last year’s float “had a snowcat on a trailer pulling skiers who were enjoying the powder — we had a snowblower blowing snow on them,” he said.
The concepts vary widely and often involve loads of papier- mache and big trailers. People on and around the floats wear Viking garb and behave erratically.
Float entries will be accepted through Tuesday, and prizes include lodging packages, lift tickets, concert tickets, bar tabs and more.
Ullr, a Norse god, was Thor’s skiing and skating stepson. Ullr was known for his skill with a bow and delighted in chasing game through forests.
“Each winter he covered the earth with snow to protect it from harm during the winter,” according to the BRC at gobreck.com. “It has been said that Ullr enjoyed the cold weather and loved traveling throughout the land, gliding along on his great skis, for pleasure and hunting.”
The festival was conceived in 1963 as a party to celebrate Ullr, the God of Winter. The myriad traditions now celebrated were adopted through the years.
The Breckenridge Mountain Rotary Club Chilly Chili Cook-off event is new for 2009.
For more information regarding Ullr Fest, including drink specials at Breckenridge bars, visit gobreck.com.
The winter festival — themed “Ullr, the Snow Miner” this year — spans a week full of stimulating activities including a bonfire, a parade and plenty of friendly competition.
“The Ullr parade has always attracted thousands of people, so we’re hoping that this year is just as successful as the previous years,” said Breckenridge Resort Chamber spokeswoman Carly Grimes.
The average parade attendance is about 12,000, and jumped to about 14,000 the year MTV was in town, she said. The Travel Channel, with host Samantha Brown, is planning to attend this year.
Local resident Rob Theobald, who won third place last year for his “Ullr Snowcat Express” float, said the parade is the festival’s best event.
“It’s sort of the unique flavor of the floats,” he said, “a lot of local people just having fun putting something together.”
Theobald, who has celebrated Ullr Fest the past 28 years, may try to work a snowcat into this year’s mining theme.
Last year’s float “had a snowcat on a trailer pulling skiers who were enjoying the powder — we had a snowblower blowing snow on them,” he said.
The concepts vary widely and often involve loads of papier- mache and big trailers. People on and around the floats wear Viking garb and behave erratically.
Float entries will be accepted through Tuesday, and prizes include lodging packages, lift tickets, concert tickets, bar tabs and more.
Ullr, a Norse god, was Thor’s skiing and skating stepson. Ullr was known for his skill with a bow and delighted in chasing game through forests.
“Each winter he covered the earth with snow to protect it from harm during the winter,” according to the BRC at gobreck.com. “It has been said that Ullr enjoyed the cold weather and loved traveling throughout the land, gliding along on his great skis, for pleasure and hunting.”
The festival was conceived in 1963 as a party to celebrate Ullr, the God of Winter. The myriad traditions now celebrated were adopted through the years.
The Breckenridge Mountain Rotary Club Chilly Chili Cook-off event is new for 2009.
For more information regarding Ullr Fest, including drink specials at Breckenridge bars, visit gobreck.com.
