Dartmouth Winter Carnival Ready To Go Feb. 13-15

This annual carnival celebrates winter, snow and fun in the outdoors with a long weekend of activities.

The carnival includes a scholarly look back at carnivals past, x-c races, human dogsled race, torch lighting ceremony, 99-cent skiing for students at Dartmouth Skiway, downhill and cross-country races, Polar Bear Swim in Occom Pond, dances, concerts, more ski races, and various non-snowsports athletic competitions.

The 2009 Winter Carnival will be held Feb. 13-15 in Hanover N.H.

For those who like to think ahead the following tips may be useful.

Order athletic event tickets by calling Big Green Tickets at 603-646-2466.

Order tickets for Hopkins Center events by calling 603-646-2422.

Winter Carnival posters and t-shirts will go on sale on campus the week of Carnival.

The Dartmouth Review recounts the history of Winter Carnival: "Ninety-eight years ago, Dartmouth Outing Club president Fred Harris devised a celebration of winter sports, and invited students from nearby colleges to compete against the unbeatable Dartmouth skiers. Officially named Winter Carnival the following year, the annual event evolved into a legendary festival once dubbed "the Mardi Gras of the North" by National Geographic magazine.

The initial "field day" proved to be a huge success, popular with students, faculty, and local townspeople.

Before long, the Dartmouth Winter Carnival developed into the most celebrated college weekend in the nation."

Who are we to disagree?