March 02, 2012 - March 04, 2012

The 35th annual winter carnival honours the legendary Griz Mountain Man and celebrates the season's snow March 2-4. Events include a parade, hockey tournament, skiing, a craft fair and other festive events in historic downtown Fernie and at Fernie Alpine Resort. Held each winter since 1978, the festival celebrates the community's connection to winter and the legendary mountain man, the Griz - a hero in these parts - who with the help of his musket helps coax snow from the sky, gracing the region with an astounding annual snowfall averaging more than 29 feet annually. A highlight of Fernie's winter Griz Days festival is the Dummy Downhill Race. This competition is strictly for fun, featuring imaginative and hilarious 'dummies' on skis launching themselves off a gigantic jump.

The 2012 carnival includes the fourth annual Snow Ball, a dance party featuring several local and visiting bands at the Fernie Community Centre.

Events Schedule: Fernie Griz Days Winter Festival 2012

Thursday evening kick-off: Cabaret dinner and show at the Arts Station.

Friday evening: Griz Days parade - 7pm start, 2nd Ave. Fun for the whole family!

Saturday all day: Craft Fair at the Community Centre. Events to be held throughout the day including Pancake breakfast, Baby Griz Race and Junior Griz Competition. Youth Street Hockey at the Aquatic Centre. Griz Bridge Tourney at the Senior's drop in Centre. Scavenger Hunt, finish at the Fernie Museum. Extreme Griz Competition held at various bars, with crowning at the Park Place Pub at 9pm. Snowmobile Drag Races at Riverside, $5 entry. Men's Ball Hockey at the Park Place Lodge. Jr Griz Olympics Pool Party at the Aquatic Centre. Arm Wrestling Smackdown at the Fernie Hotel. Community Snow Sculptures will be on display throughout the city.

Sunday afternoon: Dummy Downhill Race at Fernie Alpine Resort

All ages

Town Celebration or Festival

The Griz Days festival is celebrated throughout downtown Fernie and also at the Fernie Alpine Resort.

The City of Fernie is located on the Crowsnest Highway #3. The Resort is 5 km (3 mi) south from the City of Fernie and only 1.5km up the hill from the highway intersection.