Tuesday’s festivities kick off bright and early at 7:00 a.m. with the 20th Annual Mother of All Ascensions Race, a popular uphill costumed snowshoe race of 2.073 vertical feet starting on Fanny Hill and ending at Gwynn’s High Alpine Restaurant. Racers can participate in snowshoes, track skis, hiking boots or running shoes. Costumes are highly encouraged and prizes awarded for best costumes. All registrants receive a stuffed Goodie Bag and the chance to win some heavenly prizes from participating sponsors and local merchants. Prizes are also awarded to age category winners courtesy of Keen Shoes. Participants can pre-register at Base Camp Bar & Grill in Snowmass Village; the Ute Mountaineer in Aspen; Bristlecone Mountain Sports in Basalt; Independence Run and Hike in Carbondale; and Summit Canyon Mountaineering in Glenwood Springs. Event check-in and race day registration begins at 5:45 a.m. at Base Camp Bar & Grill. For more information on the race or for volunteer opportunities: call 250.266.0022. For lodging packages call The Destination Hotels and Resorts at 800.525.4200. Race registration fee is $30 or day of for $35.

The official Mardi Gras Celebration begins with a free kids’ carnival including clowns and face painters. The annual massive bead throw starts at 3 p.m., with the tossing of nearly 30,000 beads and prizes into the crowds. The wildest, wackiest parade in the mountains follows at 4 p.m., packing the Mall with wall-to-wall revelers, floats, kings and queens, along with mountain jesters strutting their royal Mardi Gras style.

This year’s Mardi Gras King and Queen has been rightly bestowed on long-time Snowmass Village locals, Gywn Knowlton, owner of Gywn’s High Alpine Restaurant and Moses Mogollon (a.k.a. Mo) bar manager for the Mountain Dragon. Originally from Southern California, Gwyn grew up ski racing and learned to ski at Lake Tahoe where her parents had a cabin and has lived in the area for 30 years. Gwyn owns and runs one of the few on-mountain independent restaurants with her ex-husband George Gordon and it is truly a family affair. Gwyn’s daughter Whitney is the restaurant manager and her son-in-law, Willy DeLuca, is the executive chef. She also has a grown daughter Tracy who lives in Naples, Florida, who is a ski racer just like her mom. Gwyn says she can’t imagine living anywhere else and loves the close knit community of Snowmass. She feels fortunate that she could raise her daughters in the area and has fond memories taking them to the Little Red Schoolhouse when they were little. Gwyn currently lives in Horse Ranch with her husband James and is expecting her first grandchild in July. If you are up really early on the mountain you may just see her hiking up to work.

King Moses Mogollon grew up in Alexandria, Virginia and has lived in Snowmass for almost 20 years. He followed his best friend out to Aspen/Snowmass and has never regretted it. Mo has been working at the Mountain Dragon for 12 years and is currently the bar manager. In the off season during his "forced vacation" Mo likes to travel back East to see family, his sister in Southern California or travel to more exotic places like Costa Rica and South America. Mo loves snowboarding in Snowmass and the positive energy and vibe that exists here and can’t see himself living anywhere else.

King Mo and Queen Gwyn will lead the Mardi Gras Parade down Snowmass Mall. All businesses, families, visitors, locals and organizations are encouraged to get their message out to crowds as large as 3,000 by entering a float in the parade. Snowmass offers cash prizes for Best Float ($400), Best Use of Theme, Lift Your Spirits ($200) and Best Costume ($150). The float entry is free and Snowmass Tourism provides $100 reimbursement towards float expenses as well (receipts required). To participate in the parade, contact Jacqie Stewart, at rainlord@aol.com.