Alyeska's Spring Carnival bigger and better
By Amy Quesenberry
Special to the Turnagain Times
Ken Smith/Turnagain Times
Spectators lounge on the Sitzmark Bar and Grill deck and watch the Slush Cup competition at last year's Spring Carnival. This year's 33rd Annual Alyeska Spring Carnival is April 23-25. Slush Cup will be held on Saturday, April 24, at 4 p.m. The event is Alyeska Resort's largest gathering of ski, snowboard and winter enthusiasts.
The most anticipated weekend of the winter season is just two weeks away—the 33rd Annual Alyeska Spring Carnival presented by ACS Alaska. This year's Spring Carnival is scheduled for April 23-25. The flagship event of the weekend is Slush Cup to be held on Saturday. Slush Cup is Alyeska Resort's largest gathering of ski, snowboard and winter enthusiasts of the year.
The carnival weekend starts on Friday evening, April 23, at the Sitzmark Bar and Grill with Last Train live in concert. Tickets for the show cost $5 and the show starts at 10 p.m. (21 and over). Also on Friday evening, the Alyeska Resort Daylodge will be transformed into a Kid's Night Out from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Entry is $20 per child and includes a pizza party and refreshments for ages two to 12. Families will find a variety of kid-friendly activities throughout the Spring Carnival weekend including kid's slalom races, sled rides, face painting, and more.
The big day is Saturday, April 24, and the festivities kick off with live Hawaiian Reggae music by popular Anchorage band H3 at 2:00 p.m. The band will be playing the Slush Cup Stage located next to the man-made pond. Anchorage's favorite DJs, Bob and Mark from KWHL radio station, will be on stage to emcee the weekend's festivities.
The Idiot Swim Across will take place just before the Slush Cup competition. This long-standing tradition showcases a group of hardy souls who voluntarily swim across the 90-foot long pool of freezing water.
Slush Cup begins at 4:00 p.m. and the resort recommends getting to the venue as early as possible for the best viewing. The competition features fifty “athletes” dressed in zany costumes as they vie for a chance to win a season pass by perfecting the art of the pond skim. Each competitor will be judged on style and distance by a select group of judges that includes Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan.
Alyeska Resort encourages responsible consumption of alcohol and highly recommends a designated driver. In accordance with state of Alaska liquor laws, outside alcohol is not permitted and will be confiscated. The resort does not allow pets or firearms on premises. Beer gardens and food tents will be set up at in the event venue including locations around the Sitzmark, Challenge Alaska building, and a snow bar outside the Sitzmark for those 21 years of age and older.
The festivities continue on Sunday, April 25. The Pop, Lock and Stomp It! Big Air Competition starts at 11:00 a.m. and the Dummy Downhill Race is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. The Dummy Downhill features homemade “dummies” launched from the top of Race Trail. Each dummy is judged on originality and flight distance. This is an exciting family-friendly activity.
The crowd-favorite team Tug of War is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. Spectators can expect stiff competition between teams as they battle it out through sheer muscle and strength to stay out of the man-made pond filled with freezing water. Close the night out at the Sitzmark end of season party with free live music from Hamma Jang from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
For the more civilized crowd, the final event of Spring Carnival will take place at Seven Glaciers Restaurant on Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. The Seven Glaciers Wine Dinner will feature Banfi Vintners, one of the largest importers of fine wine and a family-style menu created by Chef Tanner Exposito to complement the exclusive wines. Banfi Vintners will be releasing new wines in Alaska that have not been publically unveiled anywhere else in the U.S. Wine Dinner tickets cost $100 per person and reservations can be made by calling 907-754-2237.
Wine Dinner Room Packages are available from $179 per person, and packages include one night deluxe lodging plus Wine Dinner tickets, special gift and $25 Resort Credit. Packages can be booked by calling hotel reservations at 907-754-2111 or online at AlyeskaResort.com.
For a complete list of Spring Carnival event details and to register for any of competitions, go to AlyeskaResort.com. The Hotel Alyeska is offering special Spring Carnival packages and encourages guests to book in advance as the hotel typically sells out for the weekend. The 2010 Alyeska Spring Carnival is brought to you by Alyeska Resort, ACS Alaska and Taco Bell.
