From Tech Today: Celebrate Winter Carnival at Michigan Tech this week

HOUGHTON -- It’s time to celebrate our snowy home: Winter Carnival is back with the snow statue competition judging on Thursday, Feb. 5.

The 2015 Winter Carnival theme is "While Frozen in the Ice and Snow, We Dream of Vacations on Which to Go."

The Winter Carnival tradition began in 1922. Organized by the Blue Key National Honor Society since 1934, Winter Carnival is Michigan Tech’s mid-winter celebration of the season in the Keweenaw. Festivities kicked off in January when the month-long statue-building competition got under way. Since then, speed skating, broomball, curling, ice bowling, ice fishing, snow volleyball and much more have gotten underway.

Carnival culminates in Wednesday night’s All-Nighter, Feb. 4, with one-night statue construction joining the month-long statue projects. Broomball, a smorgasbord of unique food treats, a snowy wall of speakers pounding out music, and much more will take place across campus well into the night.

The weekend brings a two-game series against Bemidji State in hockey, the Broomball Alumni Invitational and the Torchlight Parade with fireworks over Mont Ripley.

Click here for the complete schedule.

For additional information, visit the Winter Carnival website or contact Blue Key at 487-2818 or bluekey@mtu.edu.

(Winter Carnival logo courtesy mtu.edu.)

Parking during Winter Carnival and extended Shuttle Service

In order to accommodate the many visitors during Winter Carnival, the following lots will be available beginning at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 4 (Lot 11 opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 6), free of charge, no permits required.

Lot 9 (commuter lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 5 (graduate student lot by the Rozsa)
Lot 27 (pay lot between the Administration Building and MUB)
Overnight parking -- You may park in Lot 9, the commuter lot by the Rozsa, without a permit.
Lot 11 (near the Administration Building) will be open at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Lastly, there will be free parking at all metered areas. Transportation Services will also extend its operations during Winter Carnival. The Michigan Tech shuttle service will run from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The City of Houghton shuttle service will run its regularly scheduled service. Please remember that the Michigan Tech shuttle bus is not equipped to handle children but you may use the on-demand service that the City of Houghton provides.

For any questions or comments regarding Winter Carnival parking regulations or shuttle bus service, call Transportation Services at 487-1441 or Public Safety and Police Services at 487-2216.