ULLR FEST Breckenridge

Sunday, January 11
Ice Skating Party (3:30 pm. – 5:30 p.m.)   – Bring the kids for an evening of ice skating. Steven C. West Ice Arena, located at 189 Boreas Pass Rd
Monday, January 12
Crowning of the Ullr King and Queen:  (6 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) Details TBA

Tuesday, January 13
Ullympics  (6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.)  Partake in wild events such as the frying pan toss, group ski racing and ski boot relay.  Carter Park. FREE
Wednesday, January 14
Breck’s Got Talent (Doors open at 6:00 p.m., Show at 6:30 p.m.) – Join local radio station, Always Mountain Time, for a town-wide talent show. For more information or to register contact [email protected]. Riverwalk Center, located at 150 W. Adams St.

Thursday, January 15
Ullr Parade (4:30 p.m.) – The centerpiece of the week, the Ullr Fest parade showcases Breckenridge’s wild winter fun. Main Street Breckenridge. Don’t miss the 2015 Ullr Shot Ski Attempt at 4:00 just prior to the parade (click here to sign up for the shot ski). Online To registar for the parade, click here. FREE
Ullr Bonfire (5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.) – Join us for the town bonfire.  Christmas trees are welcome! South Gondola Parking Lot. FREE
Friday, January 16
Comedy Night (7:00 p.m. Doors Open, Show at 8:00 p.m.) – Comedy Works comics descend on Breckenridge for a night of big laughs. Breckenridge Riverwalk Center, 150 West Adams Ave. Admission TBD
Saturday, January 17
SYRCL Wild and Scenic Film (5:00 p.m – 9:00 p.m.) – High Country Conservation Center and Continental Divide Land Trust are partnering to bring the film festival to Breckenridge. HCCC and CDLT share complementary missions of resource and land conservation. We are excited to come together to bring the community thought-provoking and beautiful films to inspire involvement and action. Breckenridge Riverwalk

THE HISTORY BEHIND ULLR

Ullr was so well skilled in the use of the bow and could go so fast on his skis that in these arts no one could best him. Each winter he covered the earth with snow to protect it from harm. It has been said that Ullr enjoyed the cold weather and loved traveling throughout the land, gliding along on his great skis, for pleasure and hunting.
It is also said that Ullr was such a great skier, he would streak across the sky leaving the brilliant stars as his trails (they obviously had some fine powder days). Though very skilled, Ullr guarded his knowledge closely and refused to show the other gods how to ski. Luckily for us, he let the secret out of the bag, and we will all be soon celebrating his glory. Next time you are trying to bash through some wind crust or plunge head first into fresh waist deep powder, be sure to invoke his name and remember – ULLR RULES!
One of Ullr’s travels found him in Breckenridge, Colorado. Breckenridge seemed a likely place for Ullr to settle down, since he wasn’t looking to return to Norway any time soon. Ullr fit right in and took to the mountains. And every year, Ullr blesses Breckenridge with some of the finest snow in the world.
To repay Ullr for his gift of snow, we here in Breckenridge hold a festival to honor the god of winter. We call this little celebration Ullr Fest. This fantastic party all started back in 1963 when a few of the locals heard that Ullr was in town. Well, they wanted to let him know how much Breck appreciated Ullr’s gift of snow, so they went to the Town Council and lobbied to start…‘Ullr Dag’ (Ullr Day in English). The first few years of the event were hailed with locals honoring Ullr with gold coins, parties, skiing, and oh – don’t forget the parties.
As the years went on, traditions were formed such as the Ullr Ball, the Ullr Bonfire, the Ullr Parade, Snow Sculpting, Ullr King and Queen, the Ullympics and the Ullr Dating Game. Some traditions have stayed, such as snow sculpting, which has become its own event called the International Snow Sculpture Championships. Other traditions have gone by the wayside.
From fake currency to burning old skis in the bonfire, Ullr Fest has always been about fun and partying…and Breckenridge knows how to hold a “killer party, dude.” Just ask any of the locals.
Ullr Fest 2013 continues throughout the week with games, parties and more.