Held the first weekend in February, this winter festival celebrates the area’s Norwegian heritage as well as winter activities. It features a Friday evening fat bike race held on lighted trails, a ski jumping competition on Sunday, skijouring, and kids’ cross-country skiing, all held at Iola Winter Sports Club. Downtown Iola events include an ice-sculpting contest, Chili Walk & Contest, craft show, rosemaling demonstrations, Norwegian pastries sale, plus kids’ ice-fishing contest on Lake Iola. A Norwegian dinner, including lutefisk and Swedish meatballs, and Norwegian pastries, is held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church on Saturday. Iola Winter Carnival raffle tickets are sold around the area and at the ice-sculpting, held at Chet Krause Legacy Park. For more information on skiing events, go to www.iolawintersportsclub.org. Like Iola Winter Carnival on Facebook for up-to-date info on all Winter Carnival events.