Events
The original Winter Sports Carnival included skiing, hockey, basketball, boxing, and a sled dog race for children, as well as a bonfire and torchlight parade. Modern Rondy has well over 100 events; some of the more significant include:
- Rondy Grand Prix - The Oldest Street Race in the U.S.
- Official Fur Rondy Fur Auction - the descendant of the original fur trade rendezvous, present since the earliest days.
- Miners' and Trappers' Charity Ball and Mr. Fur Face beard contest (since 1950) - Beards are grown as long as possible and they are dyed, decorated and shaped for this contest.
- World Championship Sled Dog Race (since 1946, with a women's race since 1953) - This three-day, 75-mile sled dog race brings mushers from across Alaska and the world. However, it is often canceled in recent years due to warm weather, with the most recent cancellation being in 2006.
- World Championship Dog Weight Pull (since 1967) - sled dogs attempt to pull the greatest weight
- Miss Fur Rendezvous pageant (from at least late 1950s through mid 1970s ), also called Miss Fur Rondy
- Snow Sculpture Competition
- Fur Rondy Carnival
- Frostbite Footrace - Costumed competitors run through downtown Anchorage
- Rondy Grand Parade
- Running of the Reindeer began 2008.
- Rondy on Ice - figure skating show
- World Ice Bowling Championships
Many events tend toward the whimsical, such as the Outhouse Races (in which teams build outhouses and pull them on skis with a rider inside), ice bowling, or even snowshoe softball matches. Others focus on Alaska Native culture, such as the Multi-Tribal Gathering and Native Arts and Crafts Show.
Read more about this topic: Fur Rendezvous Festival
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