Cobberland on Ice

In March 1942, Concordia students initiated a new tradition that lasted for over forty years: Winter Carnival. Winter Carnival was deemed “a time of enjoyment and getting involved in the winter weather” including activities such as the coronation of a Winter Carnival Queen and musical entertainment. The first Winter Carnival, titled “Concordia’s Ice Show,” was held at the Fargo Arena. Attended by 400, the event featured ice skating, contests, and the crowning of Becky Johnson ’44, Concordia’s first Winter Carnival Queen.

Winter Queen Candidates Through The Years 

Winter Carnival traditions changed dramatically during its forty-year history. Initially, the event was held in a single day and sponsored by The Concordian. Due to World War II, the event was not held in 1945 or 1946 but resumed in January 1947. Winter Carnival became a two to three day affair in the 1950s with the themes and activities varying. For example, in 1957 the Winter Carnival was themed “Cobberland on Ice” sponsored by the Veteran’s Club. The celebration included the coronation of Queen Nancy Lee, cross country skiing, a hockey game, roller skating, and ice skating

One of the carnival’s most interesting traditions began in 1959: a beard growing contest. The motto of the contest was “Grow a beard or spend a buck” as those male students who did not participate were required to purchase a $1.00 shaving permit. In 1962, a Concordian article stated, “Displays of various styles of beards will be posted to help the candidates cultivate the winning growth.” Student government eliminated the beard growing contest in 1964 with one senator calling the contest extortion.

A student getting his beard measured for the Winter Carnival of 1979.

"Grow a Beard or Give a Buck" contest sponsored by AES, 1961.

Unknown student caught without a beard or a "shaving permit" is punished by the Kangaroo Court of AES, 1961.

Marty Ivers caught without a beard or a "shaving permit" by the Kangaroo Court of AES, 1961.

By the 1960s, Winter Carnival had become a four-day event including coronation, an all-school supper, winter olympics, entertainment, and an all-campus worship service on Sunday morning. Queen candidates represented various student organizations, such as societies and choirs, and were involved in a competition modeled after the Miss America pageant. Candidates attended interviews and competed in talent competitions with judges from the Fargo-Moorhead area. While Student Association was in charge of Winter Carnival, it designated a society to manage the event. Societies, therefore, became much more involved in the celebration. For example, societies created their own ice sculpture that was judged for a contest. The winter olympics, held after the recess of Saturday classes, were society duels of broom ball, tug of war, three-legged races, and dog sledding, the latter of which required six men to pull a society sled carrying three of its sister society’s members. 

Entertainment was also a consistent feature of Winter Carnival. Musical groups such as Peter, Paul, and Mary came to Concordia as well as the Serendipity Singers and the Gay Nineties, a barber shop quartet of salesmen and teachers from Montevideo, Minnesota. By the 1970s and 1980s, Winter Carnival became a week to 10-day event including many of the trademarks of previous carnivals. New additions included a fondue dinner, dancing, and a Saturday night social. The last Winter Carnival was held in 1989 according to the Concordian. An event titled Winter Meltdown appeared in the early 1990s and carried sporadically through until the early 2000s. This event included many of the elements of Winter Carnival but was often spaced throughout the winter months instead of a dedicated week of festivities.