The annual Haines Winterfest is taking place this weekend with wintertime races, games, food and more. KHNS Corinne Smith has a preview of the weekend events. 

The Haines Winterfest is in its sixth year, and has become a welcome mid-winter tradition – whether for new or longtime competitors, on-lookers, or anyone just ready to get out of the house.

Amanda Randles is one of the organizers with the Southeast Alaska State Fair, and says it originally brought several winter activities together for a weekend of fun.

“It all started as all these disparate things and just trying to bring them together and grow it,” Randles said. “And you know, February is hard. We all need a reason to get outside, have fun, see your neighbors, enjoy winter a little bit, because it’s just a challenging time of year. And if our neighbors from the North come visit us, great!”

Winterfest events kick off at 5:30 p.m. Friday night at the Haines Brewing Company with the Avalanche Beacon Race, organized by the Haines Avalanche Center. 

“It’s a race, but it’s also about learning how to use avalanche beacons and how to find them in the snow,” she said. “It’s very useful.”

In a demonstration of backcountry survival skills, medals will be awarded for the fastest pin-point, probe and shoveling of one buried beacon in the snow.

On Saturday, alpine adventurers will test their skills starting at 8 a.m. in the ‘Kat to Koot’ Alpine Adventure Race. Teams will start on the Chilkat side, at the fairgrounds, and race over Mt Ripinski to the Chilkoot Inlet, at Lutak Road at 6 mile. It’s about 6.5 miles and over 3,690 foot of elevation gain.

“There’s no specific trail,” Randles said “You just do it however you do it. Some people do skis. Some people do snowshoes. But yeah, you just go up and over (Mt) Ripinski to the other side.”

The Winter Games will kick off with an Opening Ceremony at 11 a.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds. 

“We have this whole sort of silly Haines take on the Olympic opening ceremony,” she said laughing.

It’s a family-friendly event, with classic games, including the Arctic survival gear relay, snowshoe hockey, and the frying pan toss.

“Kind of like discus,” she said. “It’s you know, how far can you fling a frying pan. And we have these old ancient beat up frying pans here that we pull out every year to do it. And the frying pan toss is a good one because you can do it in whatever weather.”

Randles says the chili cookoff is back this year – after a hiatus last year due to COVID – and there will be one official judge and a People’s Choice award. The winter games and chili tasting is free for all participants. 

Saturday at 6 p.m. there will be a Winterfest Disc Golf Tournament, with glow discs and decorated baskets. 

On Sunday starting at noon at 25 Mile Haines Highway is the Miles Klehini Ski Classic. Organized by the Haines Ski and Hike Club, and there will be a barbecue and hot drinks after. 

“So it used to be more of a race. Now it’s more of like ski events,” Randles said. “It’s all get together and go skiing. And there’s kids and adults. And they usually have a barbecue afterwards. For fun, and it’s a gathering to get together and go skiing and enjoy it with everyone else.” 

As COVID rates remain high in Haines, all Winterfest events are outside and Randles says they advise social distancing to prevent the spread of the coronavirus

“People keep distance. Of course, masks are welcomed. We don’t enforce anything like that, but we certainly encourage people to wear your mask, wash your hands, stay back from people air hug,” Randles said. “If somebody’s feeling sick, and you know, it (COVID) is raging through town right now, I totally get it. If somebody is feeling sick, stay home. We’ll take pictures and share them online, so you can see what you missed. But stay home and get better.”

Participants of all ages are welcome, for a weekend of Haines’ traditions, good food and wintertime fun. 

For more information or to register for any of the events from February 25th to 27th, see details here.