Winter Carnival 2016 begins with snow statue theme of 50 states

Winter Carnival 2016 logo courtesy Blue Key Honor Society.

HOUGHTON -- It’s Winter Carnival time! Student organizations at Michigan Technological University are perched on scaffolding under lights, working deep into the night on their gigantic snow statues, a month-long effort.

The theme this year is "As snow accumulates at alarming rates, we show our love for the 50 states." Statues are expected to reflect that theme.

Winter Carnival, sponsored by the Blue Key Honor Society, officially starts on Wednesday, Feb. 3, and runs through Saturday, Feb. 6, although some activities have already begun, including ice bowling at the Dee Stadium and curling at the Calumet Drill House.

In ice bowling, students curl up in giant plastic shells, while other students hurl them across the ice at oversized duckpins. Curling, of course, has nothing to do with hair. It is the Scottish sport of heaving a round stone down a lane of ice while teammates sweep furiously ahead of the stone with brooms, to help direct its movement and increase its speed.

At 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, All-Nighter overnight statue building begins. The Alumni Association will serve hot chocolate from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Alumni House. Campus will be lit and lively all night, with karaoke from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. and classic Winter Carnival snacks like chili and deep-fried Twinkies.

Thursday morning, Feb. 4, all statue building ends and judges make the rounds. with results announced later that afternoon. The raucous Beards Competition, with outrageous skits as well as impressive facial hair, is at 1 p.m. in Rm. 135 of Fisher Hall. A bit more sophisticated brand of humor is on tap at 7 p.m. in the Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, with the Stage Review Show. The show features witty, elaborate skits centered on this year's Winter Carnival theme. Stand-up comedian Jeff Scheen is the emcee.

Winter Carnival Sports will feature Women's and Men's Basketball against Ferris State, at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively Thursday in the wood gym and Broomball from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the outdoor broomball courts on campus.

For music lovers, the Brothers of Mu Beta Psi are sponsoring a Jazz Concert from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday at the Orpheum Theater in Hancock. The concert features Northern Standard Time and AstroSax with proceeds benefiting the John MacInnes Student Scholarship for students that have shown interest and participate in musical organizations at Michigan Tech. See the Orpheum Theater facebook page for details.

Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5 and 6, will offer outdoor activities ranging from snow volleyball to horsedrawn sleigh rides to downhill skiing, snowboarding and more. Click here for the full schedule.

Update: Parking on campus

• Lots 5, 9, and pay lot 27 will be open at 4 p.m. on Wednesday and will remain open through Sunday. You may park in these lots without a permit.
• Lot 11 will open at 4 p.m. on Friday and will remain open through Sunday.
• Overnight parking is in Lot 9 next to the Rozsa Center.
• All lots open Saturday - Sunday, with the exception of Resident Lots 4, 17, 17E, 10.
• Free parking at all metered areas begins Wednesday night.

The Transportation Services shuttle will run according to the regular schedule, along with weekday hours extended to 10 p.m. A Saturday shuttle will run from 1 p.m. - 10 p.m. Please note that the MTU shuttle buses are not equipped to handle children.

Phi Taus in Hancock capture seventh straight Winter Carnival statue crown

By Dennis Walikainen, Michigan Tech Senior Editor
With photos by Keweenaw Now

"As the snow falls from above, a beast discovers love" -- by the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity in Hancock -- is the first place winner in Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival fraternity division for the seventh year straight! (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- With a large and detailed snow statue based on The Beauty and the Beast, Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, located on West Quincy Street in Hancock, won the fraternity division of the month-long statue competition for the seventh consecutive year.

Entrance to the "Beast's" castle with icy chain. In the background are Belle (Beauty) and the Beast.

Tau Kappa Epsilon’s tribute to The Lion King, next to the Administration Building, took second place, and Delta Sigma Phi’s Toy Story entry, next to Wadsworth Hall, was third.

All the statues had to follow this year’s Winter Carnival theme: "Nostalgic Films of Childhood Days Come to Life in Frosty Ways."

Michael Braun of Phi Kappa Tau said they had a solid crew of twenty members logging some 200 to 300 hours each, since they returned after the holiday break.

"I’m proud of the results," said the fourth-year chemical engineering major from Pinconning, Mich.

Belle and her beloved Beast dance in the ballroom of the castle after the magic of love transforms him.

Seven-time winner Phi Kappa Tau is known for detailed ice sculptures such as this tea service.

Among women’s groups, Alpha Sigma Tau, on College Avenue near Franklin Square, took first with a tribute to Cinderella. Theta Chi Epsilon was second, with Peter Pan; and Delta Zeta third, with the Wizard of Oz.

The Residence Hall category found Summit/WIE, also focusing on The Lion King and located in front of the Walker Arts and Humanities Center, on top, followed by Mama’s Boys and Raptor Hall.

Army ROTC (Land Before Time) bested Air Force ROTC (Jurassic Park) in the Student Organization group, with Four-Wheelers coming in third.

The all-nighters, who only had from 4 p.m. Wednesday to 8 a.m. Thursday to complete their artwork, had results in three categories. On-Campus champions were the Lutheran Collegians, followed by the National Association of Home Builders. The Off-Campus category was won by Lutheran Campus Ministries, and Bastille won the University Housing category.

Click here for Michigan Tech's photos of the winning statues.

Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival 2014 is underway with lots of snow for statues

By Marcia Goodrich, Michigan Tech Magazine Editor

Michigan Tech students build statues during the All-Nighter during Winter Carnival 2013. (Photo courtesy Michigan Tech University)

HOUGHTON -- This year's Michigan Tech Winter Carnival presents no shortage of snow for the construction material with more than 100 inches that have fallen this season. Mounds of the white stuff dot campus, more than enough for student organizations to build their signature statues of snow and ice, following the theme "Nostalgic Films of Childhood Days, Come to Life in Frosty Ways."

Last year's winner in the fraternity division, Phi Kappa Tau in Hancock, took first place with this giant snow structure and its icy details, inspired by "The Incredibles" animated movie. Fraternities and sororities have been working for a whole month on their creations this year, but have the advantage of more snow. (Photo by Keweenaw Now)

The All-Nighter kicks off at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5, when students put in a final push on their statues before judging the following morning. Crowds of people wander through campus, drinking hot chocolate and enjoying music and camaraderie. Eventually, they drift home, leaving students to labor until the statue-building deadline, 8 a.m.

The Center for Diversity and Inclusion (Hamar House, Building 13 on campus) will be open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 5. During the All-Nighter, statue builders and friends are welcome to come in from the cold to warm up with free coffee and snacks.

On Thursday morning visitors will flock to campus to see the snowy dioramas. Among the entertainment offerings, sleigh rides begin at 9 a.m. and sled dog rides begin at 3 p.m., Feb. 6-8, near Douglass Houghton Hall.

Winter Carnival, sponsored by Blue Key, is about much more than statues, however.

Click here for a schedule of event highlights. You can also learn more at www.mtu.edu/carnival. Click here for a detailed schedule.

Parking during Winter Carnival and extended shuttle service

To accommodate the many visitors during Winter Carnival, Transportation Services will unlock the following lots at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5. This means you will be allowed to park in these designated areas without a permit:
Lot 9 (commuter lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 5 (graduate student lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 11 (near the Administration Building) Open at 4 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 7
Lot 27 (pay lot between the Administration Building and MUB)
Overnight parking: you may park in Lot 9, the commuter lot by the Rozsa Center

Lastly, there will be free parking at all metered spaces.

Transportation Services will also extend its operations during Winter Carnival. The shuttle will run from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday. The City of Houghton shuttle service will run its regular scheduled service.

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.

Winter Carnival is underway at Michigan Tech

HOUGHTON -- Michigan Tech's Winter Carnival is underway and will continue through Sunday, Feb. 10. This year’s comic book-inspired theme is  "Heroes and villains find their powers, in these frozen winter hours."

The All-Nighter began at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, and continues until 8 a.m., while students who have been working for a month on their statues share the music, food and fun of this night as they put finishing touches on their creations before the judging on Thursday.

In addition to the snow statues, Carnival activities and competitions range from basketball and hockey to skiing, curling, the Bigfoot snowshoe event, ice bowling, human dogsled races and more.

Saturday night wraps up with a torchlight parade down the University's ski hill, Mont Ripley, and the semi-formal Sno-Ball.

Click here for the schedule of events.

Parking for Winter Carnival

Parking is allowed without a permit in these areas:

Lot 9 (commuter lot by the Rozsa Center)
Lot 5 (graduate student lot by the Rozsa)
Lot 11 (near the Administration Building) Open at 5 p.m., Friday, Feb. 8
Lot 27 (pay lot between the Administration Building and MUB)

Overnight parking -- you may park in Lot 9, the commuter lot by the Rozsa.
Lastly, there will be free parking at all metered areas.

Transportation Services will also expand its operations during Winter Carnival. In addition to the regularly scheduled shuttle, an additional shuttle will be made available for rides between the SDC, MUB and Daniell Heights from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday. Additionally, the City of Houghton Transit will be on campus during Winter Carnival, or you can use their on-demand service.

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

Phi Kappa Tau in Hancock takes another first in 2012 Winter Carnival Statues Fraternity Division

HANCOCK -- Michigan Tech's Phi Kappa Tau, located in Hancock, retains its winning reputation with another First Place in the Winter Carnival Statues Fraternity Division. This is the fifth year in a row Phi Kappa Tau has won the award.*

"Don't Underestimate ...

The Dreams of ...

Detroit" is the title of Phi Kappa Tau's 2012 winning snow sculpture.

Is baseball your favorite?


An icy signpost points the way to Detroit's multiple sports teams and stadiums. Who said Detroit was known only for cars? (Photos by Keweenaw Now)

"From All Over the State, What Makes Michigan Great" is the theme of this year's Winter Carnival. Visit their Web site for photos, schedule and more.

* Read more about the Winter Carnival winners in today's Michigan Tech News story, by Dennis Walikainen.

See also "Statues Stand Tall In Spite of Weather Warm-up," by Danny Messinger.

Click here to find out the complete results of the Winter Carnival Statue competition.