This weekend — just days before athletic action heats up in Vancouver — the town of Grand Lake is stoking Olympic fever of its own stripe.

The town has already transformed into an Olympic village, with flags of many nations hanging from downtown facades.

The Olympics are the theme of the town's Annual Grand Lake Carnival, and merchants are participating by representing countries of their choosing — made-up or real.

Mountain Lake Properties represents the North Pole, The Lariat Saloon has become the embassy of “Werdahekawi,” and the new Grand Lake Diner is now the hub of Key West Conch Republic.

Even places as remote as the Isle of Man, Madagascar and Gabon now have presence in the small mountain town.

Identifying the countries of the flags that hang can be a trivia event in itself, with about 99 percent of Grand Lake Chamber businesses taking part in the flag flying, according to the Carnival Committee's “Grand Poobah” Suzi Maki.

“I think the town looks great with all the flags out,” said Grand Lake citizen Kathy Lewis. “I think they should leave them up even after Carnival.”

In this week leading up to Grand Lake's Olympic Day, Saturday, Feb. 6, Grand Lake's version of an Olympic traveling torch triggers specials at restaurants or retail shops. For example on Tuesday, The Waconda — owned by Swiss-German proprietors — served a Swiss-inspired breakfast special while the plastic torch took refuge at the restaurant.

Near the start of the Games, Carnival Committee member and former Olympian Scott Munn plans to walk a torch to its final destination for the lighting of the cauldron — a painted 55-gallon oil drum holding the bowl of a barbecue grill — in the town park.

The cauldron serves a dual purpose, Maki said. “You can use it to warm yourself up during the day if you like.”

The event that usually draws the most spectators in Grand Lake's annual winter wacky fest is the popular Bed Sled Race.

Representing the Vatican republic, the judges of the bed sled races this year will be dressed as nuns, “because you can't argue with a nun,” Maki said.

Since snow was below-average in January, Winter Park Resort is lending to the Town of Grand Lake a snowmaking machine to ensure Grand Avenue has the proper sled-racing surface.

There are still participation slots available in many of the events, such as for the bed sleds and flag football, Maki said.

The chamber of commerce has available a few ready-made bed sleds for those lacking the ambition to engineer their own.

Just like in years past, the Carnival day will culminate with the Medal Ceremony and dance at Pancho & Lefty's, which is flying the Mexican flag.

Athletes will stand on platforms and receive ivy crowns with their medals, Maki said.

They won't be the only ones crowned.

Eight sets of Carnival King and Queen candidates have been collecting money votes in the weeks leading up to Olympic Saturday. The winning candidates are those who receive the most votes. Proceeds support next year's Carnival event.

For all spectators, participants and party-goers throughout the day, costumes in accordance with the Olympic theme are highly encouraged, according to the Grand Poobah.

But, she noted, the Jamaican Bobsled (turned-bed sled) Team is already taken.

— To reach Tonya Bina, tbina@skyhidailynews.com, or 970-887-3334 ext. 19603.