~ John Williams myblackshillscountry . com
Although the Guiness World Record for the fastest temperature increase is rather well publicized , that same day the Chinook winds blew right back out , and temperatures fell from 58 degrees back down to a frosty -4 , earning Spearfish a second Guiness Record for the fastest temperature decrease . “ Windows cracked around town , windshields instantly fogged up , people had to pull over ,” John said . “ Lots of unique anecdotal evidence of this happening .”
“ It isn ’ t as though that event that happened is unique and never happens anymore . Chinook winds come through often ,” John said . “[ My brother and I ] wanted to bring about an event that would create and enhance that experience of Spearfish …. So , we landed on Chinook Days , a winter celebration , to celebrate that wild world record . We combined it with some music , arts , and beer . My brother is an avid home brewer and Chinook is a variety of hops that is used in brewing beer , so we thought Chinook hops , Chinook winds , and winter events flow pretty well together to make a fun week in Spearfish . We ’ ve morphed different events over the years , but we have a week of events that celebrate winter in Spearfish .”
This family-friendly fest has something for all ages , from mountain sporting events and challenges , to local food , to a film screening at the Matthews Opera House , craft beers , snow games for kids ( weather permitting ), and the iconic bonfire to close out the week .
Chinook Days will kick off with the Winter Carnival up at the Big Hill recreation area outside of Spearfish on Saturday , January 18 . Starting at 11 a . m . , there will be food and beer at the warming hut , provided by Killian ’ s Food and Drink and the Crow Peak Brewing Company , and at noon the winter games will begin , with whole-family fun . “ We encourage people to come up and we do group fat bike rides , and group skis and snowshoes , some fun games out in the meadow there , where we pull kegs on fat bikes , and do ‘ dad mushing ’ as we call it , where dads – and moms – pull their kids in sleds while wearing snowshoes . It is just a fun camaraderie event . It has always been a mainstay .” Ironically , this Winter Carnival has actually been postponed in past years due to frigid temperatures . “ It is kind of part of celebrating the wild weather in Spearfish ,” John said with a laugh .
The whole following week is sprinkled with events , including a selection of indoor events for some out-of-theelements entertainment , from Killian ’ s 13th Annual Winter Luau on Sunday , to a pub crawl on Wednesday , a snow sculpture contest , and a screening of the Backcountry Film Festival hosted by the Matthews Opera House , along with a soup feed . Live music will be plentiful , either at the Matthews or at other restaurants and breweries around town .
“ Other businesses will sometimes just put on their own things ,” John said , emphasizing how much of a whole-community event this has become . “ Spearfish Brewing has done Chinook Days Trivia , and Chinook Days Bingo on another night ; Crow Peak Brewery has done other things in the past as well . Each year it changes a little bit …. Last year , we did a historical talk at the Matthews over the lunch hour , with a local historian . We always try to incorporate some of the historical aspects of it so it is still fresh in people ’ s minds .”
To help beat the cold , 12-15 hand-crafted burn barrels are stacked with firewood and burn throughout the day .
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Other businesses will sometimes just put on their own things . Spearfish Brewing has done Chinook Days Trivia , and Chinook Days Bingo on another night ; Crow Peak Brewery has done other things in the past as well . Each year it changes a little bit .
~ John Williams myblackshillscountry . com
Down Country Roads 15