Red Lodge Prepares for Winter Carnival 2011

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By Kyle Midura

Story Published: Feb 25, 2011 at 8:12 PM MDT

Story Updated: Feb 26, 2011 at 4:18 PM MDT

RED LODGE - Red Lodge Mountain staff members are preparing for their biggest weekend of the year. "Skiing is not the main attraction this weekend," said Marketing Director Jeff Carroll.

The 2010 Winter Carnival brought 4,000 people to the mountain. The weather's not expected to be as nice in 2011, but that won't stop some from sporting tropical attire. "This is a great party, people love it," said Carroll, "people out of Red Lodge, people out of Billings, and from our destinations, markets, too."

In 2010, parking backed up three miles down the hill. For 2011, carpoolers will be rewarded with prime parking. Downtown, carnival-goers staked their claim to rooms months ago. "We always fill up early," said John Gilligan, who has managed the Chateau Rouge for over 17 years. They rent out condominiums to visitors.

In the summer resort town, the carnival is one of the busiest winter weekends of the year for the Chateau Roughe. "It's a family kind of event, and it just draws a big crowd whether they're participants or not," said Gilligan.

The carnival's main attraction is the 'Cardboard Classic,' where participants race their cardboard creations down the slope. "We see several of these kind of groups that come year after year," said Gilligan, "and the hope is that they'll take home the gold."

"They're halfway down and pieces are flying everywhere, it's a really good time," said Carroll of the event. Carroll added, "Winter Carnival is about celebrating winter." Gilligan calls it, "the first sign of spring," even if it doesn't feel like it outside.

Volunteers willing to park in the Red Lodge Civic Center lot will be rewarded with a ride up the mountain and a voucher for the bar.

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