Big news Winter Carnival fans, the McCall Chamber of Commerce has announced after two years of a shortened program, it is changing its annual McCall Winter Carnival back to the previous 10-day schedule.
In 2026, the carnival will run from Friday, Jan. 30, through Sunday, Feb. 8. This follows two years of a shortened three-day carnival, in which the chamber tried to address “the small town’s capacity and staffing challenges during peak winter visitation.”
According to a news release, the Winter Carnival draws an estimated 60,000 visitors to the town of 4,000.
The release from the chamber said after the two-year trial and considering survey results and feedback given in local forums, it decided to resume the 10-day schedule.
“This trial period brought us valuable insights into the most important and impactful aspects of Winter Carnival,” said McCall Chamber Executive Director, Sheila Francis. “While opinions remain divided on the ideal length and timing of the event, at the end of the day, the Chamber’s mission is to drive traffic to local businesses. If we can secure strong community support, a 10-day event remains the most effective way to provide that boost.”
The news release said by extending the carnival once again, it hopes to see an increase in snow sculpture participation. It also acknowledged the need for more volunteers.
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Valley Lookout’s Drew Dodson contributed reporting.
