Steamboat Pilot & Today

"I love the lights and the snow," said Meeker Chamber of Commerce secretary Bonnie Kracht. "There's something about Christmas that's just great here."

Cross country skiing is a favorite, while others prefer to get around on snowshoes or snowmobiles.

During the winter months, all access roads into the Blanco Ranger District of the White River National Forest are closed due to snow accumulation. But these roads and trails provide almost unlimited opportunity to enjoy snowmobiling.

The only part of the district closed to snowmobile use is the Flat Tops Wilderness. Normally good snowmobiling begins in late November and lasts until mid April.

The Eastern Rio Blanco Parks and Recreation District also builds an ice skating rink at Circle Park that's open to the public as long as weather permits.

"They maintain that all winter so the kids can use it for hockey," Kracht said.

The park district also plans a number of community events to beat the winter doldrums.

The Christmas Extravaganza is planned for Dec. 2 and includes kids drawings for items donated by local merchants.

"We just have as many prizes as we can possibly handle," Kracht said.

The event also asks participants to use their imaginations through snowman and sleigh-building contests. Breakfast with Santa is set for 8:30 to 11 a.m. to Dec. 3 at the extension office.

Visitors may drive through Meeker and see the entrants in the seasonal lighting contest for both homes and businesses. The contest begins Dec. 1 and runs through Dec. 17 when the winners are chosen and awarded prizes.

The Senior Holiday Social is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the Fay Building, and a male beauty pageant, a fundraiser for a courthouse lawn clock tower, is still in the works.

The annual Winter Games will feature a variety of games and activities, including a cardboard snowcraft derby at the Paintbrush Park Sledding Hill. The cardboard crafts are tested during a race and the winner receives a trophy.

In the past, merchants have offered specials and hot chocolate.

For more information on Meeker's winter events, call the Chamber at (970) 878-5510 or the parks district at 878-3403.