Bae-watch: DU Winter Carnival 2019

A sleigh ride at DU’s 1999 Winter Carnival (Photo from Digital Collections at DU)

Back for another year, signed with our fond affection, Warming up to Winter Carnival will feature the fan-favorite horse and carriage rides around campus. This year, we’ll be centered on Carnegie Green, so you won’t have to be distracted by reminders of the loss of Driscoll (RIP).

Honestly, this event sets itself up for romance even without my commentary. Grab some hot cocoa or cider and cozy up to your cutie in a scene straight out of almost any Winter Hallmark movies. Forecast says it’ll be perfect weather for a carriage ride together!

Commemorate the moment afterward by stopping by our crafting station and creating your own snow globe. We can’t wait to kick off this wonderful week with you!

Tuesday, February 5

Chili Cook-Off

(6-8 PM) AAC Special Events

Montrell Nickerson and Kira Pratt and Beans ‘n’ Jeans at the 2017 Chili Cook-Off (Photo by Wayne Armstrong; Kira Pratt)

What’s the best way to spice things up in a relationship (or one in the making)? – Bump it up a “chili pepper rating,” if you will? Why, by sampling chili recipes together to your heart’s content at the annual Chili Cook-Off! Imagine this: you walk up to the Beans ‘n’ Jeans table (big winners for the past 2 years, ICYMI) and eagerly reach for a sample when your fingers brush with the hand of the cutie you’ve seen frequenting Beans coffee shop for the past few weeks (!). Not only is that poetic justice but, depending on the chili recipe, it’s also potentially the perfect “meat-cute” situation. There’s really no way I see this opportunity failing, so why not come along and at least give the event a go? Worst case scenario: you maaaybe end the night alone, but in a state of euphoria with the satisfaction that only a stomach full of top-notch chilis can provide. Honestly, this is a win-or-win deal, folks.

Wednesday, February 6

Arcade Night

(4-8 PM) Gold Room, Ritchie Center

//This one is for the girls who like gaming systems / Gamer gorls, A/V girls on the blazing systems / When they come up in the club they be squarin’ up/ On another league’s level, they be scalin’ up//

And with that to set the tone, I present to you: Arcade Night. If you’re feeling like a high roller, then head over to the luxe Gold Room in the Ritchie Center on Wednesday night to get your game on. Opportunities to level-up some romance here? – Plentiful! Who doesn’t love a little flirty competition over classic games like Pac-Man and Skee-Ball? Worried things won’t click because your crush is more an Xbox and you’re more an Atari? Lucky for you, we’ve got you both covered! Old-school classics and new-classic-fantastics, alike, are welcome – meaning you have ample occasion to perfect your ‘game.’

Thursday, February 7

Tropicabana

(4-7 PM) Gates Field House

Week 5 got you dreaming of a beach vacation? Well, at Tropicabana you can turn that wish into something even better: a beach ‘bae’-cation! Regardless of whatever Colorado’s weather is doing that day, you can be assured that we’ll be turning up the heat at our mid-winter tropical extravaganza! Come challenge your special someone to a game of Meltdown – think Wipe-Out, but more land-based. Sure, no one’s apt to look very graceful as they finagle their way through the course but, really, isn’t that all the more charming? After a well-run course, delight in the island life, sipping on some smoothies, staring longingly into your lovers’ eyes, and dreaming about a spring break that’s just visible on the horizon.

On-Mountain Events

Students on-mountain at Keystone in 2018 (Photo by Connor McKeen)

Congrats, DU! You’ve made it through the week! And now we make the ascent to Keystone for our weekend-getaway. In the words of Trevor Wallace: “Stairway to Heaven? More like stairway to SHREDDIN’.”

There’s so much fun to be had up on-mountain, so make sure you make the most of it! Whether you’re a skier, boarder, tuber, skater, or explorer, Keystone is your wonderland for the weekend!

And who knows? Maybe the magic of Winter Carnival will grace you and your romantic wishes. It worked for Troy and Gabriella in High School Musical; it worked for Lara Jean and Peter in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before; and it even worked for one of DU’s own – someone shared with us this year that they met their (now) girlfriend up at Winter Carnival freshman year and that they’ve been happily together ever since! (I cried). All Winter Carnival magic – isn’t that incredible?

I’m just saying… might not hurt to take note.

Friday, February 8

Dive & Jive

(8 PM) Adventure Center

Students ice-skating at Winter Carnival 2018 (Photo by Connor McKeen)

Does it seem like you and your crush ended up lodging on two entirely different mountains? Well, worry not – distance here ain’t nothing but a thing! Make plans to meet up at our Dive & Jive event the first night up on-mountain. With all the aesthetics of a restaurant Guy Fieri would probably visit if Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives did a mountain-resorts edition, it’d be a wonder if you weren’t swept up by the flirty atmosphere. Lean in with your cutie over a plate of guilty-pleasure fried foods – anyone ever Lady & the Tramp a mozz. stick? Or, if you’d be more keen on doing something conventionally cute, you could go ice skating on the rink just outside. Whether it’s just you two in your own little world under the soft glow of the string lights, or a whole group of you clumsily swinging each other around, this evening event makes for a wonderfully laidback first night!

Saturday, February 9

Aprés Ski

(4-6 PM) Warren Station

Aprés ski entertainment at Winter Carnival 2018 (Photo by Connor McKeen)

Hopefully, most of your day has been spent shredding some sweet powder on the slopes; getting some air on the tubing hills; and/or just letting the pristine mountain air purify your skin, detox your system, fix your GPA, etc. Whatever you and your bae have spent your time doing, set a meet-up to reconvene at the beloved Aprés-ski event! Essentially, this is a grand feast fit for royals set to a live, pop-acoustic music set. It’s a great time to catch up, hang out, and make plans to get the most out of the last day or so of the weekend. Perhaps a hot-tub hangout is in the cards? Bonus points if you do snow-angels between hopping in and out – that’s how the real ones do it, at least.

Saturday, February 9

“Blades of Glory”

(7-10 PM) Warren Station

Looking for a low-key, cozy way to spend the evening? We’ll be hosting a small showing of Blades of Glory starting at 7 PM. Cuddle up with your cutie and laugh at the slapstick comedy of Will Ferrell and Jon Heder leaping about in body-hugging leotards. Fashion Nova influencers are shook!

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(Photo by Kira Pratt)

In terms of official programming, that makes a wrap on Winter Carnival 2019! Whether or not any of these pro-tips and insights give you any luck in linking up with someone – which, doubtful they won’t because of the whole magic thing – I hope you make some unforgettable memories and maybe meet some new friends on-campus or on-mountain.

On behalf of myself, the DUPB Executive Board, and the Traditions Committee, we would like to wish you a very happy and safe Winter Carnival!