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Ullr Fest – a party downtown for snow on the mountain

Daily Staff Report

The time has come again, to begin the new year in a celebration of gratitude to our favorite Norse god, Ullr. The weeklong festivities in Breckenridge often bring out the wacky side of living on a mountain, and folks can be seen chilling in hot tubs in floats down Main Street, dressed up as Vikings and Viking maidens, and new this year – being set up on a date with the help of Ullr. Following are the week’s worth of Ullr events.

Ullr Dating Game • Today from 8-10 p.m. at Cecilia’s Been looking for love in all the wrong places? KSMT hosts this retro, original TV show “The Dating Game”-inspired event. Johnny Brokaw, KSMT promotion director and on-air personality, said the set will be “cheeseball” with Steve (the morning guy) Burell hosting in a similarly cheesy way. Bachelors and bachelorettes, who signed up by Thursday, will be chosen for four rounds of matchmaking. Brokaw said questions will include funny ones, like “If you were an ice cream sundae, what would you put on top?” reminiscent of those given in the 60s game show, as well as some the contestants come up with themselves. Matched pairs will win gift certificates.

Ullympics• Wednesday from 68 p.m. This crazy event features co-ed teams competing for fun and prizes in three zany events. A party follows with beer and prize giveaways. Join us at Carter park for a great time, and don’t forget to practice tossing that frying pan. Find a downloadable entry form at gobreck.com to sigh up your team.



Ullr Parade• Thursday from 4:30 p.m. The famous Ullr Parade on Main Street is themed this year, “Nobody’s Cooler than Ullr.” The parade will stage on Main Street between Watson and French Street and proceed south through the heart of Breckenridge. Registration is open until Tuesday to enter a float in the parade. Call (970) 453-5055 or visit gobreck.com for a downloadable entry form.

Ullr Comedy Night• Friday, Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. Enjoy an evening of comedy with Denver comedians Chris Voth and Louis Johnson at Beaver Run Resort. Laugh the night away, all in the name of raising money for local child care. Appetizers and cash bar available. Tickets are $25. Call (970) 453-6423.

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For more information on Ullr Fest, call (800) 936-5573.Carol and Sigurd Rockne named 2007 Breckenridge Ullr King & QueenSigurd Rockne and Trigve Berge started Ullr Fest in 1963 – then known as Ullr Dag, which means Day in Norway. It was a weekend event in the 60s and full of unique traditions. The organizers set up outhouses at either end of town as sentry posts and charged anyone coming into town 50 cents. In exchange they received an Ullr coin. The first Ullr King & Queen were then Colorado Gov. Love and his wife Ann Love.

There was a sign as you entered town that read “Welcome to the Kingdom of Breckenridge” and on the back side read “Are you really sure you want to leave Breckenridge?”Carol Rockne came to Denver in 1963 as a school teacher and spent her weekends skiing at Arapahoe Basin. After breaking her leg in May of 1963 she started traveling around the state with a friend and came through Breckenridge. Meanwhile Sigurd Rockne and Trigve Berge were starting up the Breckenridge Ski School as well as running a local restaurant on the north end of town known as “The Mine.” Carol met Sigurd as she traveled with her broken leg in the summer of 1963. They were married in Breckenridge in 1964. They have lived in Breckenridge ever since – raising three children (Signe, Erik and Steven) all born in Breckenridge. They are now enjoying their grandchildren (Ridge and Hunter) who are also being raised in Breckenridge.


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