Party in the Woods

At the 10th Annual Suds and Snow

Feb. 26, 2016

At the 10th Annual Suds and Snow

Nicknamed The Ultimate Party in the Woods, the 10th Annual Suds and Snow is returning for another big Michigan afternoon filled with drinks, food, tunes and fun. This isn’t your typical throw down in the boonies; it’s a curated mega-event that starts with a half-mile hike through the backwoods of Timber Ridge Resort and ends with two live-music stages, local food vendors, a range of craft breweries and a whole lot of fun.

THE HISTORY

Troy Daily is one of three men who co-own and coordinate the event; the other two being Mike Moran and Jeremy Smith.

"Timber Ridge had actually hosted this event themselves for the first eight years," Daily explained. "It started as just a fun little winter thing for them. In the first year, they only had 25 people attend, but as it got bigger and bigger, they had to hire people independently to run it."

Daily, Moran and Smith took over as owners/ operators in November of 2014, with the agreement that it would still be hosted at Timber Ridge.

"They wanted to keep it branded as such, but wanted someone else to run it, so we put together this great partnership with them," Daily said.

THE CHARITY

Each year, a portion of ticket proceeds is donated to charity, with $2 from each ticket guaranteed this year. Timber Ridge owner Gordon Waggoner is an advocate of the TART and Vasa recreational trails across northern Michigan, as was reflected by the 2015 donation to those organizations.

"We often end up donating more to the charity than the minimum, depending on how well we do," Daily explained. "Last year, we bought some grooming equipment for the TART and Vasa trails with part of the proceeds and the rest of the sales went back into event maintenance."

They’re still deciding which charities will benefit from this year’s event.

THE PARTY

After you hike into the woods, what will you be doing at Suds and Snow? Plenty of partying, according to Daily. They’ll have 24 vendors offering more than 100 beers, wines and ciders (non-alcoholic beverages will be available, too, but you have to be 21 or older to attend), plus eats from local restaurants and food trucks serving foods like street tacos, burritos, chili, soups, brats, burgers and paella. Free shuttles will run from downtown Traverse City and the event’s partnering hotels, looping to bring people to the event and back at no charge. An in-town after-party at Rare Bird Brewpub will kick off at 8pm with live music from Chicago band Low Spark; the shuttles will take you there, too.

THE MUSIC

In addition to Low Spark at the after-party, you’ll hear plenty of live tunes at this year’s Suds and Snow.

"We’ll also have a DJ dance party featuring 2Bays DJs right out of Traverse City," Daily said.

On the performance roster this year are TC locals Savage Soul, who play rock classics and soulful original music; fellow local four-piece jam band The Pocket; and regional favorite G-Snacks, a party act that arrives loaded with funk and groove tunes. It’ll be an unusual environment for the bands, performing outside – in early March – but that’s all part of the fun.

"There’s lots of socializing. We’ll have games, campfires, dancing; it’s just a blast," Daily said. "I really like seeing all of these people having such a good time in the middle of winter. It’s unique – but it’s cold! So, dress accordingly."