Worship Winter

In 1963, according to local lore, the ancient Norse god of winter packed up his skis and his bow and moved to Breckenridge, where villagers have been celebrating his arrival ever since. “We’re having an epic snow season this year, so there’s good reason to come out and praise Ullr,”...

By Colin Bane

January 6, 2011

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In 1963, according to local lore, the ancient Norse god of winter packed up his skis and his bow and moved to Breckenridge, where villagers have been celebrating his arrival ever since. “We’re having an epic snow season this year, so there’s good reason to come out and praise Ullr,” says Breckenridge Resort Chamber spokeswoman Rachel Zerowin.

The 48th annual Ullr Fest (rhymes with ruler) gets under way today with a 1 p.m. ice skating party at the Stephen C. West Ice Arena, 0189 Boreas Pass Road, followed by (what else?) a drunken pub crawl. On Monday at 5:30 p.m., check out the Ullr Nordic Party and Bonfire at the Breckenridge Gold Run Nordic Center, where revelers have been known to sacrifice old pairs of skis to the flames before crowning the Ullr King and Queen. E-mail [email protected] to sign up a four-person coed team to compete in the Ullympics at Carter Park on Tuesday at 6 p.m. or to volunteer your naked self for the Tuaca Body Art Ball, 8 p.m. at Riverwalk Center. The main event takes place on Thursday, when the Ullr Parade makes its way down Main Street.

“Anyone who loves skiing and snowboarding or loves winter has to see the Ullr Parade to believe it,” Zerowin says. “As a gal who grew up on Mardi Gras in New Orleans, I can honestly say the Ullr Parade is...well, let’s just say it’s the second craziest parade in the world.” Check out a full schedule of events at www.gobreck.com.
Jan. 9-15, 2011

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