History - A Brief History of Winter Carnival

1922

Student organizations held a one-night Ice Carnival. The show was staged in a traditional circus setting with students costumed as animals.

1924

A circus big top was pitched in front of the old Shop Building, and the show was performed in a circus sawdust ring.

1928

The Queens Competition began, judging women on their beauty, ice skating, and skiing skills.

1930

Carnival lay dormant due to the stock market crash of 1929.

1934

Blue Key National Honor Fraternity began organizing Winter Carnival.

1935

A two-game intercollegiate hockey series with the University of Minnesota was added.

1936

Michigan Tech students and local school children began building snow statues.

1940

Lack of snow postponed Winter Carnival until February, a permanent change. With the installation of a ski hill, a downhill ski racing meet was added.

1944

Winter Carnival was canceled because of World War II.

1946

Winter Carnival was enthusiastically resumed, and a Stage Revue was added.

1947

The Beards Competition began.

1959

Two buses brought fifty-two girls to Michigan Tech for the Sno-Ball. A tradition begins.

1962

The Flare Pageant down the ski hill was added; it's now known as the Torchlight Parade.

1963

A Tall Tales Tournament was started, but was short-lived.

1966

Snowballs were sent to Southwest Texas State University for a campus-wide snowball fight.

1979

A Canadian band, the "Guess Who," performed two Winter Carnival concerts.

1981

Comedian Pat Paulsen performed for Winter Carnival audiences.

1993

A Tug-of-War competition on ice was added.