By Abigale Krenheider
Grab your festive beads, funky costumes, and party skis and shoes to join in on the Mardi Gras weekend celebration in Ellicottville, New York this weekend. This small ski town puts a unique twist on the internationally recognized celebration, bringing together both locals and visitors for two days of music, fun, and festivities.
The celebratory tradition began thousands of years ago as a way for pagans to ring in the spring season, symbolizing new beginnings and fertility. This historically pagan tradition eventually became incorporated into Christianity in Rome and then spread throughout Western Europe.
Mardi Gras, also known as “Fat Tuesday,” centers around eating, drinking, and partying. Traditionally, it is celebrated on the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (February 21, 2023), marking the beginning of Lent.
The Ellicottville Mardi Gras celebration coincides with Holiday Valley’s Winter Carnival, making for an exciting weekend on March 11 and 12, 2023. This year’s theme is Retro Party, so dust off your vintage ski attire and hit the slopes.
Saturday morning kicks off with Winter Carnival activities at the base of Yodeler hill, including the Ski Patrol Toboggan event and Beer Slalom at 2pm. Outside Yodeler Lodge visitors can enjoy live music from the Mo Porter Band with a drink in hand from the annual Snowbar.
Down at Creekside there will be face painting and a scavenger hunt for the little kiddos to have some fun and even grab a bite to eat at the Hot Dog cookout right outside.
The festivities continue on Saturday night in downtown Ellicottville with a colorful costume parade, featuring participants in wild costumes, painted faces, masks, and beads. The Holiday Valley Ski Patrol, HV Rangers Skiing and Snowboarding Program, and others will join in on the parade marching along in their Retro-themed costumes.
You can register online at the Ellicottville Chamber website to join in on the fun.
Following the village parade, visitors are invited to head back to the slopes for another full day of activities on Sunday, March 12
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One of the highlights of the annual Winter Carnival weekend is the ski parade down Holiday Valley’s Mardi Gras Run. This year’s parade will begin at 12pm on top of the mountain. Spectators and parade fanatics are invited to dress in their best retro ski costumes for the group ski in spirit of this year’s Winter Carnival Retro Party theme.
Before the parade, fuel up with some pancakes at the Mardi Gras Warming Hut, where Ski Patrollers will be flipping flapjacks at 9am. What a great way to start a Sunday morning on the mountain!
The weekend adventure of skiing and partying continues with the annual Dummy Downhill at Yodeler, where you can cheer on your favorite dummy on skis. After the downhill event, head back to the Yodeler Lodge to enjoy the musical offerings by the Jay McDonnell Duo and maybe another drink from the Snowbar.
For a full list of activities and details, visit the Holiday Valley’s website.
Ellicottville’s Mardi Gras celebration in combination with Holiday Valley’s Winter Carnival is an opportunity to delve into the internationally celebrated holiday. Let your freak flag wave and break out that old but timely ski gear for the weekend Ellicottville has been waiting for. You won’t want to miss the vivid costumes, live music, and delicious food and drinks.
Mardi Gras has become an essential part of the Ellicottville community’s tradition, marking the culmination of a great winter and the beginning of a new season.
However, the ski season is not over yet, as Holiday Valley has more events planned to follow Carnival, including the Intense Milk Rail Jam on March 18, the Rail Rider Jamboree Music Festival on March 18, and Pond Skiing on March 25.