Winterfest moved to new location

The Sundance Winter Festival is confirmed to be going ahead this year, with a few changes to the usual format. The event is scheduled for February 13 and will include the usual ski joring, bar stool racing and wild tube races that attendees have come to look forward to.

Until recently, there was some question as to whether the event would be able to go ahead after its volunteer organizers – Reggie Gaylord and Steve Lenz – stepped down after five years. It proved difficult to find replacements for the pair, likely due to the level of effort required to take charge of the festival’s staging.

Steele Roping and the Sundance Downtown Business Association have stepped forward to take on the challenge together, however, and will aim to provide the same levels of fun and mayhem that Winterfest has become known for. While Steele Roping will organize the events and prizes, the association will handle advertising, apparel, vendors and sponsors.

The event has been moved to the Crook County Fairgrounds and there will be an entry cost for all attendees over the age of 12.

“There will be food vendors as well as space for other vendors who would like to sell things,” confirms Jamie Jessen, Sundance Chamber of Commerce.

Of course, a winter festival can’t go ahead unless there’s plenty of snow to build a course with, so final confirmation that the 2021 Sundance Winter Festival is going ahead can’t be given until closer to the actual date. This year, says Jessen, a decision will be made on February 1 as to whether enough raw material is available to move ahead.

For information about the event, contact Jessen at [email protected]. If you would like to volunteer to help organize the event, contact Deanna Steele at 290-0590.