How to celebrate Australia Day in Breckenridge

January 26 has come and gone. But did you know what day it was? It was Australia Day! Known as the national holiday of Australia, it’s every Aussie’s favorite day to celebrate in Breckenridge after an amazing day of skiing and riding.  Ask an Aussie about the history of the day and they will tell you it marks the arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships, lead by Captain Arthur Phillip, at Sydney Cove, New South Whales in 1788. Today, the holiday is a chance to connect with friends and family, or more simply, a chance to celebrate life with those you love. Barbeques and beer are bountiful as Australian flags fly high in the blowing summer breeze. (It’s summertime in the southern hemisphere.)

Australia Day falls annually in the middle of the Budweiser International Snow Sculpture Championships here in Breck. This event is an amazing out door activity for the whole family that features teams from around the world competing to create the best snow sculpture. Sculptures start as 12-foot-tall, 20-ton blocks of snow and are then transformed into breathtaking works of art that leave the viewer breathless. Artists are only allowed to use hand tools and are given 65 hours to complete their masterpieces. This year 16 teams competed, and while there was no team representing Australia, Australia has competed in previous years. Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Mexico, two teams from Mongolia, Russia and USA all competed.

On Australia Day in Breckenridge, people have been known to ride around the mountain dawning capes fashioned out of flags, while skiing and riding boldly. Then after a hard charging day on the mountain, people party with friends at home or gather at their favorite pubs.  Check out Motherloaded Tavern at 103 S Main St, Briar Rose Chophouse & Bar on 109 E. Lincoln Ave, or the T-Bar restaurant at the base of Peak 8 in Breckenridge. However, if you’re lucky enough to be invited by a local to a party, be sure to bring a pavlova, an authentic Australian meringue-based dessert named after the Russian ballet dancer Anna Pavlova in honor of her Australian tour in 1920.

Here’s a link to a great recipe on the Food Network’s website. Enjoy!

– Chris Vozella