McCall Winter Carnival

The snow sculptures are the highlight of the McCall Winter Carnival. When the Winter Carnival first began, the sculptures were built in front of the residents'' homes. Now, several local businesses like Bryan''s Burger Den and Krahn''s Furniture have snow sculptures ranging from small to tall (over 20 feet). Judging for the best sculpture begins at 8am, Friday, January 25. The Carnival''s opening ceremonies begin at 7pm, and the winners of the Snow Sculpture Contest are announced. In past years, Bryan''s Burger Den and Krahn''s have taken the Grand Prize. There is also a Children''s Neon Light parade on opening night, and a Mardi Gras parade the next morning, January 26, through the town. Neither the opening ceremonies or the parades are to be missed.

Quick Tips:

There are several activities during the McCall Winter Carnival week. There is the Senior Bingo at the Senior Center and the Grand Bingo at the golf course on Wednesday, January 30. I would skip the Grand Bingo. It is expensive and you have to pay more if you change cards in between games. Also, alcohol flows freely and expensively at the Grand Bingo, and the locals get drunker and more obnoxious with every game. It ruins a nice night out with the family and friends. I would recommend for people to walk or drive around McCall and see the many snow sculptures and the State Snow Sculpture Contest in Legacy Park, which is in the middle of McCall near the McCall Mall. The winners go on to international events.

For the skier, there is night cross country and downhill skiing at Brundage Mountain and the Little Ski Hill.

There are many good restaurants to dine in such as Lardo''s and Panda Chinese Restaurant.

Best Way To Get Around:

This year, the McCall Winter Carnival is being held from Friday, January 25, to Sunday, February 3. The best way to get to McCall is to take Highway 55 from Boise and drive 100 miles north until you get to McCall. Highway 55 goes straight through the heart of McCall. Parking will be a nightmare during Carnival. So, I would recommend leaving your car at your hotel and walking around town to see the sculptures.

There is a horse-drawn carriage that takes people around McCall on scenic tours that you can do.

Bryan's Burger Den has been a very popular local hangout in McCall for 20 years. Bryan and Roxanne Hill, the owners, are a big part of the community, and their restaurant is a place where locals and tourists come to eat burgers and fries and other Burger Den specialties.

In fact, they are known for their Burger Den Special, which is a double meat burger with cheese, bacon, and other fixings and it comes with fries or tater sticks and a large soft drink. They also have broasted chicken, which comes with potato logs and salad. But if you order the broasted chicken, you better have time to eat it because it takes 15 minutes to cook. They also have great chicken sandwiches and for the vegetarians, there is a garden burger that is out of this world.

In the winter time, Bryan's has delicious hot soup, and it is sold separately or with a daily special which has a sandwich and fries or tater sticks. It is very filling. Most of the big sandwiches come with fries or tater sticks, and drinks are a separate purchase.

For children, there are chicken nuggets, hot dogs, corn dogs, and little burgers and Kid's Meals that come with fries or sticks and a soft drink. Bryan's also has soft ice cream, frozen yogurt, and shakes that are made to order. The food is cooked to order and is always hot and delicious, and the service by the waitresses is always courteous and quick. The restaurant is small, only about 10 tables and smoking is not allowed inside.

Every Winter Carnival, Bryan has a prize-winning snow sculpture that was done until 2 years ago by Roxanne. Now, their daughter Carissa does the sculptures with help from the local Special Olympians.

Bryan's Burger Den is located right on Highway 55 in McCall as you enter the town and is near several McCall hotels. It is open from 9 a.m.-10 p.m. during the winter and 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the summer. Bryan's serves lunch all day and breakfast from 9-11 a.m. only. So come on in to Bryan's where your food is fresh and is not under heat lamps all day!

The Pancake House and Christmas Tree Shop is McCall's place to go for great pancakes and breakfast food. Since the summer of 2002, it also serves dinner in its new 11,000 square-foot log cabin restaurant on Hwy. 55.

Mom and I went to the Pancake House today for breakfast for the first time since the new restaurant opened. It was not very busy at 9:30am, and the hostess seated us immediately in a huge booth near the window. There was an old milk jug of ice water that reminded Mom and I of when we used to have our milk delivered in glass jugs when we were living in Rhode Island. The decor is very rustic, nostalgic, and colorful.

We were immediately given tea and coffee by the hostess, and our waitress came over shortly afterwards to take our order. She was courteous and quick. Mom ordered a huge buttermilk pancake with kielbasa and hash browns. I ordered the Potato Batter Pancake. About 15 minutes later, our food arrived on huge plates and huge portions that overflowed our plates. Mom gave me half of her huge hash brown serving, and our waitress refilled our tea and coffee. The food was delicious and very, very filling. Mom could not finish her pancake, and I was surprised that I ate both of my potato pancakes and got up from my seat afterwards.

If you decide to go to the Pancake House when you visit McCall, make sure you get there early. They are open from 6am to 2pm for breakfast and lunch and from 4-9pm for dinner, seven days a week. The Pancake House is very busy on the weekends, during Winter Carnival, and all through the summer. When I drive by the Pancake House on Saturdays and Sundays, I can sometimes see the line to be seated all the way out on the porch. After breakfast, lunch, or dinner, don't miss checking out the Christmas Shop in the restaurant for that special Christmas ornament or gift.

The 2003 McCall Winter Carnival will be held from Friday, January 31, to Sunday, February 8. Opening ceremonies will be on January 31 at Legacy Park in the heart of McCall, Idaho, with prizes for the best snow sculptures being awarded to winners.

Throughout the week will be many events associated with the Winter Carnival, starting with the opening candelight parade on January 31. On Saturday, February 1, at 10:30am, a big Mardi Gras Parade will go through the main drag of McCall.

There will a "Best Beard and Sexiest Leg" contest at the Yacht Club on E. Lake Street, on Tuesday, February 4. Grand Bingo will be held at the McCall Golf Course on Davis Street on Wednesday, February 5, from 7-10pm.

Amateur dog-sled races will be held on Sunday, February 2, at Legacy Park. Dogs will race in weight classes and prizes will be given to the winners in each class. Also at Legacy Park during the week will be the State Snow Sculpture Competition--it should not be missed.

Just enjoy yourself while you walk around town admiring the many ice sculptures fronting many businesses. There are also sleigh rides tours of McCall every day during Carnival.

After a day of fun in the sun and snow, have lunch or dinner at the Panda Chinese Restaurant or one of McCall''s many other restaurants.