Winter Carnival 2026
Through Ice and Snow, to Space We Go
Organized by Blue Key National Honor Society since 1934, Winter Carnival started in 1922 and has grown into one of the biggest annual winter celebrations in the nation. Known for huge, intricate snow statues around campus, Carnival also brings Huskies together to compete in broomball, comedy skits, human ice bowling, and a royalty coronation.
Winter Games
New! Hungry Hungry Huskies
Teams will compete for the highest score in our version of the classic game Hungry Hungry Hippos. The “Husky” will be launched into the center on sleds to catch as many balls as they can in their basket before getting pulled back to the team. The team that collected the most balls after three rounds wins. This event will take place on ice.
Broomball
Teams will play each other for two 10 minute periods with a 1 minute half time. All players must have a valid Michigan Tech ID to play. Teams that do not have four players on the ice within five minutes after their scheduled game time will automatically forfeit the game. All players should review the complete list of broomball rules.
Cross Country Skiing
Organizations will provide two or three member teams to compete in a roughly 2-kilometer cross country ski race. This event will take place on the Isle Royale Trail at the Tech Trails. This event is scored based on the total time of all three team members. Teams consisting of fewer than three members will have the slowest contestant of the day’s time included in their total time for every person missing.
Curling
Teams slide stones across a sheet of ice toward a target similar to a bullseye. Points are awarded for stones closest to the center of the target after each team has thrown eight stones. Teams of three to four participants will participate in this event which takes place at the Drill House in Calumet, Michigan. The style of this tournament is head to head single elimination.
Downhill Skiing
Teams with a minimum of two and/or a maximum of five participants will compete in this giant slalom style event. In giant slalom, skiers weave through gates to reach the finish line. The times of the top three finishers for each team will be combined for a team total. This event will take place at Mont Ripley Ski Hill. Teams consisting of less than three members will have the slowest contestant of the day’s time included in their total time for every person missing.
Downhill Snowboarding
Teams with a maximum of five participants will compete in this giant slalom style event. In giant slalom, snowboarders weave through gates to reach the finish line. The times of the top three finishers for each team will be combined for a team total. Teams consisting of less than three members will have the slowest contestant of the day's time included in their total time for every person missing. This event will take place at Mont Ripley Ski Hill.
Human Dog Sled Races
Race to the finish line in this 100-yard snowy sled dash! In this event there are six people pulling a sled that holds four riders and one musher. Each team must race in a homemade sled.
Ice Bowling
Teams consisting of no more than 10 members will compete in this version of bowling on ice. One team member will ride on a sled to act as the ball and will be slid down a nine foot wide ice lane to knock down as many pins as possible. Teams will complete six frames scored the same as regular bowling. This event will be held at the SDC Stadium.
Snow Soccer
Teams of five will compete in this soccer competition played on snow. Games will be played in two (2) 10-minute halves, with goals worth 1 point each.
Speed Skating
This skating competition consists of three different events: one lap, two laps, and a four-person relay. Teams can participate in any or all of these events. The one and two lap races are scored individually so it is possible for one team to take more than one place in these events.
Snow Volleyball
Teams of no more than twelve will compete in this volleyball competition played on snow. Rally scoring will be used and games will be played to 25 points.
Tug of War
Teams of eight will compete at the Campus Softball Field. There is a 5 minute time limit for each match and the tournament is single elimination. To win teams must pull the center of the rope over a designated marker
Banner Paintings
Organizations will receive a cloth banner from Blue Key and be given two weeks of school time to paint their designs on the cloth. The organizations will then return the banners to Blue Key to be hung up on the second floor of the Library. Students, community members, and visitors will then be able to vote for their favorite banners by voting online.
Schedule of Events
The most up-to-date sports schedules can be found on the Michigan Tech Huskies website. Watch games on Huskies Live and Midco Sports Plus.
Participation in Winter Carnival winter games is limited to registered members of participating organizations. Spectators are encouraged to attend and cheer on the competitors.
Royalty
Ashley Delie
Pronouns: She/her
Maci Dostaler
Pronouns: She/her
Lorelei George
Pronouns: She/her
Lia Iacoangeli
Pronouns: She/her
Ruth Kirby
Pronouns: She/her
Megan Kleinheinz
Pronouns: She/her
Ramie Sussex
Pronouns: She/her
Kaitlynn Zimmerman
Pronouns: She/her
Stage Revue
Lights, camera, action! Winter Carnival Stage Revue, a tradition that's been going strong since 1946, Huskies competing for the coveted Winter Carnival trophy (and Stage Revue bragging rights) put their all into auditioning, rehearsing, and performing skits. Come join in the laughter and applause as they’re judged on acting quality, technical production, good taste, originality, theme, and entertainment value. Vote for the Audience Choice winner.
Comedian
Zarna Garg has established herself in the comedy scene, captivating audiences with her quick wit, relatable humor, and fearless social commentary. This Indian immigrant mom turned stand-up comedy star is beloved by 2M+ social media followers. She has a Hulu Stand-up Special - Zarna Garg: Practical People Win, and an Amazon Prime Special - Zarna Garg: One In A Billion. Zarna headlined a sold-out tour in 2023/2024, opened for comedy legends Tina Fey and Amy Poehler on their 2023/2024 Restless Leg Tour, hosts The Zarna Garg Family Podcast, and is featured on Amy Poehler's new podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Zarna is best known for her hilarious observations on the challenge of raising college-aged kids and she is bravely vocal about criminalizing evil mother-in-law behaviors. Presented by Late Night Programming and the Rozsa Center.
Meet the Student Organizers
Blue Key National Honor Society is an organization that strives for the goals of excellence in academics, development of leadership, and service to the community. Blue Key was established to organize and coordinate the Michigan Technological University Winter Carnival in a fair and equitable manner to serve the surrounding community. Overall, Blue Key sets standards for recognizing excellence in leadership in college activities and in scholarship.
Contact: bluekey@mtu.edu | 906-487-2818
Parking
To accommodate Winter Carnival, the following parking lots will be available free of charge for visitors and will not require a parking permit:
- Lot 5 and Lot 10W (Flex Lot that will be flexed to Free Visitor Parking)
- Lot 27 (visitor lot between the Administration Building and MUB)
- Cliff Drive (parallel parking spaces)
Additionally, there will be free parking during the day at all metered/ParkMobile areas throughout Winter Carnival. There is no overnight parking at the meters. Visitors requiring overnight parking may park in Lot 10W (Flex Lot located east of East Hall - opposite side of Cliff Drive) without a permit.
All residential and faculty/staff lots will continue to be monitored for proper permits. If you require a free motorist assist or have any questions about parking regulations, you can contact Transportation Services at 906-487-1441.
Donors
*denotes product donor
Corporate ($1000+)
- MTU IRHC
- MTU Athletic Director
- MTU Office of the President
- MTU Office of the Vice president for Research
- MTU Residential Living
- MTU VP for Student Affairs
Copper ($500-$999)
- MTU Graduate School
- MTU Finance and Administration
- MTU Electrical & Computer Engineering
- MTU VP for Advancement and Alumni Engagement
- MTU Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
- Keweenaw Brewing Company
Gold ($250-$499)
- The Forge
- MTU Provost & Senior VP for Academic Affairs
- MTU Assistant VP for UMC
- MTU College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science
- MTU Psychology and Human Factors
- MTU Financial Aid
- MTU VP for Community Engagement
- MTU College of Business
- Soumi Restaurant
- Houghton Super 8 Motel
- Remax Douglass Real Estate
- Aire Care
- Copper Country Ford Inc
- Stromberg Carlson Products Inc
- Ojibwa Casino Resort
- UP Engineers & Architects
Silver ($100-$249)
- MTU Engineering Fundamentals
- Gino's Restaurant
- MTU Chemical Engineering
- MTU Mathematical Sciences
- MTU Kinesiology and Integrative Physiology
- Ramada Hancock
- Portage Quilt House
- Copper Country Management
- Peterlin Bros. Co.
- Peterson's Fish Market
- Advance Tec Body Repair
- Surplus Outlet
- Keweenaw Automotive Inc
- Pepsi Cola Bottling Company
Bronze ($5-$99)
- Bucko's Party Store
- La Cantina Restaurant
- Keweenaw Peninsula Chamber of Commerce
- Dapple-Gray Bed & Breakfast
- Queen City Running Company