Bring on the Ullr Fest fun

In a festive plea to the Norse winter god Ullr (pronounced “OOOL-er”) for a snowy season, Breckenridge locals and visitors will party down January 8–14 with a bonfire, parade, ice skating party, a chili cook-off, and much more.

The theme for Breck’s 49th Annual Ullr Fest is “49 and doing fine.” The anything-goes festival began in 1963 when a group of Breckenridge Ski Resort ski school instructors from Norway introduced Ullr Dag (Norwegian for “Ullr Day”) to Breck to draw visitors to town for some mid-season fun.

2012 Schedule of Events:

Sunday, January 8 – Ullr Skating Party
1:00-3:00 p.m.
Take some afternoon spins with Ullr at Breck’s Stephen C. West Ice Arena. Admission is free and hot concessions and $5 skate rentals will be available. Proceeds benefit Al Chaffee Memorial Scholarship fund for High School Seniors.

Monday, January 9 – Ullr Nordic Party & Bonfire
5:30-9:00 p.m.
Head to Main Street Station for this free bonfire event featuring the crowning of the Ullr King and Queen.

Tuesday, January 10 – Ullympics
6:00-8:00 p.m.
Sign up in advance to compete in the Ullympics or stand by and watch co-ed teams compete for prizes in hilarious competitions (think frying pan flinging) at the Maggie Restaurant at Peak 9. Email events@gobreck.com to sign up. Participation is free.

Wednesday, January 11 – The Dating Game
8:00 p.m.
Find your soul mate and win awesome prizes at local radio station KSMT’s annual Dating Game. Adults 21 and over are invited. For more information and to apply to be a bachelor/bachelorette, call 970-453-2234, ext. 20 or visit www.ksmtradio.com.

Thursday, January 12 – Ullr Parade & Bonfire 
4:30 p.m.
Grab a horned Viking hat and head to Main Street to score candy and swag with 12,000 cheering Ullr fans. Take in the crazy floats and even crazier participants as they make their way down Main Street wearing fur bikinis or being pulled behind a team of huskies. A bonfire will follow in the South Gondola lot between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Breckenridge bars will be throwing parties and offering specials all night.

Friday, January 13 – Comedy Night
7:00 p.m.
Spend your Friday night rolling in belly laughs at the Carriage House. Comedians TBA. Call 970-453-6423 for details.

Saturday, January 14 – Chilly Chili Cook-Off
3:00–7:00 p.m.
End the week with hearty bowls of chili at the 5th annual Mountain
Rotary Club Chilly Chili Cook-Off at the Riverwalk Center. Admission is $20 at the door, $15 in advance at www.BreckChillyChili.com.

2012 Ullr Fest “Bud Light” Bar Series

Monday, January 9
3:00-5:00 p.m. Coppertop Café And Lounge **
5:00-7:00 p.m. Ullr’s Bar-King And Queen Crowning **
7:00-9:00 p.m. Park Avenue Pub **

Tuesday, January 10
3:00-5:00 p.m. T-Bar **
6:00-8:00 p.m. Riverwalk Center (Harvest Catering) – Join Us For The Ullympics **
9:00-11:00 p.m. Jakes Dive Bar **

Wednesday, January 11
2:00-4:00 p.m. Quandary Grille **
4:00-6:00 p.m. Fatty’s **
8:00-10:00 p.m. Cecilia’s

Friday, January 13
10:00 p.m.-midnight Salt Creek Steakhouse**

** Drawing to win a pair of skis or a snowboard provided by Bud Light

Here are nine more Breck events not to miss.

— Lisa Pogue

Top photo courtesy Cody Downard. Bottom photo courtesy Casey Day.