Parade shines as Winter Carnival fun kicks off

Short, sweet, and a whole lot of fun.

That sums up Friday's annual Winter Carnival parade. The fan-favorite event attracted hundreds of residents who lined the streets along Church and Oak streets and Second and Fourth avenues as families and fans of winter turned out on a chilly night to kick off the annual celebration.

"It was great," Mickie Quinn said as she checked in entrants and answered questions at her first Winter Carnival celebration as the Greater Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce director.

More than 70 volunteers turned out to help carry the 617-foot-long ski cap through the three-block parade route. Some carried the cap, created in the late 1970s, in their hands, some wore it around the neck and others were bedecked in lights or ski garb with the lead volunteer wearing the cap on her head.

The cap was created by Gini Woodward and Scott Hadley for the fourth annual Winter Carnival in 1977. More than 56 people and businesses contributed to a fund to buy materials that went into creating the cap, which features more than 10 million individual stitches.

Payton Johnson, owner of Sugar Tooth in downtown Sandpoint, knew he wanted to take part in the Winter Carnival parade and convinced Marsha O'DellElliott to come along for the ride. And, as the owner of a chocolate shop, Johnson knew just what to do when it came to creating a float — a big, giant cotton candy creation.

"He's just a cotton candy king," O'DellElliott said, giving credit for the innovative float which won creativity honors at the parade. "He was all, this is what we're doing this year."

"But," interjected Johnson, "it was supposed to be fluffier. Next year, it will be and it'll be bigger."

The float — with four 20-ounce bags of cotton packed around an all-terrain vehicle — drew smiles and waves from youngsters and adults alike, the pair said.

"They were all waving and really happy," O'DellElliott said.

Johnson is already planning to make the float bigger, better, and even fluffier for next year's parade.

Also having fun — and delighting onlookers — were folks adorning the Heating & Cooling float as fast-paced dance music blared from a float dominated by a giant white inflatable unicorn complete with a smiling leprechaun on board and  colorful inflatable mushrooms

The idea for the float came after they learned the theme for this year's parade was "Weird and Unusual," Christina Bruce of AGE Heating and Cooling said. "So we went with mythical creatures and unicorns and leprechauns and dragons."

A search on Amazon resulted in the discovery of the giant-sized unicorn being ridden by a smiling unicorn. The team was off and running with everyone excited to take part in the parade, she said.

AGE workers gather for a pizza party as they put the float together and then head out for some fun at the parade, Bruce said.

It's the second year that AGE has won for having the most spirit, she added. "It's a lot of fun and everyone loves to participate."

This weekend's Winter Carnival activities continue Sunday, Feb. 18, with a full slate of events at Schweitzer including tubing, kids crafts, a campfire and treats in the village, music, and the annual "Let it Glow" night parade at the resort followed by fireworks.

The Jauntee wraps up Presidents' Day weekend events with a concert at the 219 Lounge. The show begins at 8 a.m. at the historic downtown bar. 

The carnival, which runs through Feb. 25, continues with a slate of activities throughout the week at Schweitzer, plenty of live music at a host of community businesses, a barn dance at The Hive on Friday, and a concert by The RUB at the Hive on Saturday.

The final day of the carnival, Feb. 25, features the fan-favorite Eichardt's K9 Keg Pull, a free showing of the film "Cool Runnings" at the Panida, and a classical music concert at the Music Conservatory of Sandpoint.

Information: sandpointwintercarnival.com

    Payton Johnson and Marsha O'DellElliott take a selfie after the Sweet Tooth cotton candy-themed parade float won Most Original honors at Friday's Winter Carnival parade.
  

    The AGE Heating and Cooling float makes its way down Oak Street near the city parking lot.