McCall Winter Carnival
February 23, 2024 - February 25, 2024
The inspiration for the Winter Carnival dates back to 1924 when McCall created the Payette Lakes Sports Carnival to beat the winter doldrums. Back then, events included dog and snowshoe races, ski jumping, horse skijoring, and a tug-o-war where the prize was a box of oranges—now that’s a treat! In addition to these events, visitors could also take an exhilarating ride across the lake ice on a motor sleigh, a standard sleigh outfitted with an airplane motor for power.
100 years after the first Payette Lakes Sports Carnival, McCall’s signature event is being reimagined again. The goal of hosting Winter Carnival on a single weekend at the end of February is to strike a balance between the importance of honoring community traditions and the ability of the community to provide services to the visitors who flock here to enjoy what the McCall area has to offer.