Willow Winter Carnival kicks off in style

WILLOW — Mushers, shoppers, runners and performers alike set the Willow Winter Carnival off with a bang this weekend.

On Saturday, Anchorage resident Al Hellmann said he was particularly awed by the fireworks lit up by the Willow Area Community Organization (WACO) on Friday night.

“They were better than the ones in Anchorage on the Fourth of July,” he said.

Hellman’s sister, Willow Lions Club member Berna Brooks, pointed out that fireworks aren’t as visible anywhere in Alaska in the summer, but she agreed that they “were spectacular” that night.

Carla Hellmann, Al’s wife, said it was just nice to “get away from the city” and visit with family for the weekend.

For the people of Willow, though, the carnival is a longtime hometown tradition. Debie Bloom, WACO secretary and Willow Ambulance servicewoman, said the carnival started in 1961, and is one of Willow’s biggest events of the year.

“I love seeing the community coming together and interacting together and having a good time,” Bloom said.

That sentiment was shared by Christa Andrews, who was working at the carnival as a wellness advocate for doTerra essential oils. Though she likes being behind a vendor table with her children, she also enjoys participating in the events of the carnival, and watching the dessert auction.

Her favorite thing is “just watching the kids bid,” win and yell in triumph, she said.

For the more outdoorsy types, a sled dog race or a 5-kilometer run is the biggest draw.

One runner said the 5k is the main reason she comes to the carnival, though the “Talent or Not Show” on Saturday, Feb. 7 always brings her and her family laughs.

Ariane Wheeler, who’s husband James took second in the Earl Norris Memorial Sled Dog Race on Saturday, said it’s the race that brought them to the carnival at first, but now it’s a good time for their 2-year-old-daughter Meela as well.

The family hails from Clam Gulch, Ariane said, but they spend most of the winter living and training their dogs out of a trailer in Willow.

“We enjoy it.”

The carnival continues Sunday, and next weekend, Feb. 5-7.

Contact reporter Caitlin Skvorc at 352-2266 or caitlin.skvorc@frontiersman.com.