Winter chills abound and now more than ever feels like a great time to get away from it all. While a nice beach vacation may sound like a great option, and it is, consider celebrating winter instead of running from it. With so many winter holidays and local festivals it is a great time to expose the kids to something new and different, as you enjoy the season together.

Steamboat Springs, Colorado is a beautiful town in the heart of ski country. This family-friendly escape has a lot to offer parents and kids alike, both on and off the slopes. Their annual Winter Carnival is in its 102nd year in 2015 and has some truly unique offerings you won’t find anyplace else.

This year it runs from February 4 – February 8, 2015

Winter Carnival is a departure from the ordinary winter festival in the best possible way. At 102 years old it is the longest running winter event west of the Mississippi and it’s evolution shows in the diversity and excitement of its offerings. Here parades, ski jumping, races and evening fireworks are the least exciting things going on. See the country’s only skiing marching band play down Lincoln Avenue, adults on shovels towed through the town square by horses at high speed and skiers jumping through fiery hoops. Then you have an idea of what Winter Carnival has to offer. Be sure to read up on some fun facts and history to learn more, then check out a carnival itinerary for an idea of what to do.

See The Calendar for an overview of some of the many events (or just check out the signature street events) and get an idea of what you want to see and do. Many events have limited capacity so it pays to register early if you want to participate as opposed to just watch.

To learn more about the event, visit Steamboat Springs’ useful Winter Carnival page for more information.

And to help you save money on a family adventure in Colorado, check out some of these great deals. Please note, that all deals are current as of the date this article was published but some do expire. Please see the applicable website for terms, conditions and restrictions.

Hotels.com considers Steamboat Springs a top winter destination and rounds up all their best hotel prices for you in one convenient location.
Hertz offers savings of $50 on your Weekly Rental this winter. Use code: 210114
Priceline offers ski town deals from $28 per night! Winning bids in Top Cities can save up to 60% off compared to other online travel sites.

Also be sure to check out our similar winter festival tips about Chicago’s Winter Festival, Ottawa’s Winterlude and Quebec’s Winter Carnival.

You might also enjoy our tips on Ski Towns for Non-Skiers in the US West.

Please note that some of the links included in this piece are affiliate links and in such case, Real Family Trips will receive a small commission if you make a purchase after clicking on the link.