Michigan Technological University's Winter Carnival is an annual celebration that takes place every winter in Houghton, Michigan. It is a time to celebrate the large amounts of snowfall Michigan's Upper Peninsula receives each winter. Winter Carnival is characterized by snow statues, outdoor games, and many student activities.
Save the date: February 4–7, 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 to become one of the largest annual winter festivals in the nation. Featuring dozens of huge, intricate snow statues all around campus and the community, this event also brings together students to participate in broomball, comedy skits, sleigh rides, a queen coronation, and lots of winter fun.
Michigan Tech Huskies created a kingdom fit for Lancelot in a challenging snow statue competition during Winter Carnival 2025, working with the medieval theme “Dragons, Knights, and Legendary Sights.” Check out the winners in the month-long and all-night categories—with a round of applause for all participants!
Nobody celebrates winter like Husky Nation. One of the biggest annual winter festivals in the nation, the beloved Michigan Tech tradition draws thousands of visitors to Keweenaw. Winter Carnival fun begins with All-Nighter Wednesday, when statues are completed for judging, and wraps up Saturday night with fireworks.
Michigan Tech’s Past Winter Carnivals archive offers a vivid window into how this celebrated campus tradition has evolved and endured. What began as a modest “Ice Carnival” in 1922 — a one-night circus-style performance put on by students — has blossomed into a multi-day festival that captures the imagination of the university and surrounding community alike.
In giving a historical overview of the past carnivals, the archive not only catalogues annual themes and events, but also preserves the spirit, creativity, and continuity that have made Winter Carnival a cornerstone of Michigan Tech culture.
Through the decades, Winter Carnival has been shaped by both triumphs and interruptions. The tradition was suspended during the Great Depression and again during World War II, before being revived by the Blue Key Honor Society, which took over its organization in the 1930s.
Over time, new components — like the iconic snow statues, parades, queen coronations, and theatrical skits — were woven into the celebration, each reflecting the creativity and commitment of Michigan Tech students and alumni across generations.
