Carnival clowns and capers
This year's Whitefish Winter Carnival was bigger and better than other years, according to some longtime residents.
Bigger certainly — the parade had more entries, more bodies and took more time than most people can remember.
The sun was setting behind Central Avenue buildings by the time the last float passed the Royalty perched atop the Village Shop roof. A wet Viking kiss, however, was sure to warm the soul of shivering parade watchers.
Winter Carnival actually started a month ago, when the Prime Minister and Duchess of Lark were announced during the stinging sarcasm of the Merry Maker in the Great Northern Saloon. Each week since then, another character or two was handpicked to play one role or another, until the anointed or knighted numbered more than a dozen.
Good-natured disorganization is part of the Carnival game — actors and actresses routinely forget their lines at Merry Maker and coronation skits. This year's King, Joe Basirico, was in such a hurry to get his acceptance speech done Jan. 14 that King Ullr XLII Bill Beck had to rein him in so the rest of the coronation gags could play out.
Skijoring at the Whitefish Airport drew teams from across the Rocky Mountain west for races on Saturday and Sunday. Mushy snow, however, made for poor traction, and rather than fly off the jumps, skiers landed with a thud. The mules did well against the horses.
Saturday kicked off with the Penguin Plunge. Whitefish and Kalispell police teams joined groups from across the valley in raising money for Special Olympics. One bambino braved the icy depths in his Batman costume.
By 3:15 p.m., eager throngs pressed against the orange twine lining the parade route on Central Avenue. As the marching bands boomed in the distance, a Yeti on an ATV turned the corner onto Railway Street.
Following on the Yeti's heels was the Winter Carnival's new motorized self-propelled float, with proud past and present Royalty perched on stumps. But no sooner did the float start to make its wide turn onto Central Avenue, then the gas engine burped, sputtered and died.
King Ullr XLV Howard Austin sprang into action, his black cape flowing behind him as he fumbled with battery cables in hopes of shocking the $42,000 vehicle back to life. Minutes later, however, Kings and Queens gathered by the back bumper and shoved the new float out of the way.
As was expected, the Flathead's biggest and best parade included an eclectic mix of the straight and the strange. Hundreds of kids ranging from 18 to three years old danced to Mardi Gras music in a block-long entry. Also dressed in black were a troop of naughty nuns — complete with Groucho Marx masks.
Kudos should go to the two young men who followed all the horses, llamas and dogs with wheelbarrow, broom and shovel. Their odorous passing marked the end of that show and the start of another.
Droves of parade watchers hustled down to Depot Square to witness a trio of daring young men in their flying machines. Whitefish got what was advertised — an upside down snowmobile is something worth seeing — but viewing was difficult. One man plunged through the three-foot deep ice in the Depot Park pond trying to find a better spot.
Police and court personnel also stayed busy all weekend. Nine people were cited for DUIs, two for open container and two for public urination. Police responded to at least five disturbances at downtown saloons — including closing down the Flanagan Central Station balcony. Judge Bradley Johnson held court on both Saturday and Sunday to help clear the jail cells.
All in all, the 2006 Whitefish Winter Carnival was a big hit. Once again, Whitefish has played host to thousands and proved that everyone loves a parade.
Rick Hanners