The McCall Winter Carnival Lineup Released; Starts January 24

Now in its 55th year, the McCall Winter Carnival is scheduled to kick off Friday, January 24, 2020.

The events schedule for the 2020 McCall Winter Carnival is now available to view. The popular, nine-day celebration, begins officially with the annual opening ceremony at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, proceeded by a firework show over Payette Lake at 7:00 p.m.

The event was created as a tribute to the Payette Lake Winter Games of 1924. The first official carnival was held in 1960. McCall is located 230 miles northwest of Twin Falls and has a population of approximately 3,400.

The carnival will feature dozens of activities for all ages, including the annual parade, ice skating, beer and wine vendors, fireworks, live bands, late-evening deejays playing dance music, ice sculpting, kids games, swimming in heated pools, open-mic-nights, and karaoke, to name just a few. The carnival ends Sunday, February 2, at 10:00 p.m., following three straight hours of live music.

Between 60,000-70,000 people on average attend the event each year. This year's theme is, "It's a Kid's World." The annual Mardi Gras Parade is Saturday, January 25, starting at noon. You can download the official guide book by clicking here.

Artists will also be traveling from across the country to compete in the 2020 Idaho Snow Sculpting Championships, which coincide with the carnival. Sculptures will be on display throughout the city. For a list of lodging in the area, click here. For those who have never attended the event, enjoy the video from last year's carnival.

For additional details on the 2020 McCall Winter Carnival, you can visit the event's Facebook page.