Get your Festival On

Winter festivals and events in Northern Michigan have been challenged by Mother Nature in recent years. Some communities, businesses and organizations have been getting creative with wintertime events. Northern Michigan seems to be getting a jumpstart on winter this year, so there is plenty of renewed interest and optimism for winter festivals and events.
Just about every community in the North has some sort of winter celebration. Travel Michigan’s website (Michigan.org) has the most comprehensive listing of winter events and festivals throughout Michigan.
Here is a quick look at some long-standing and new winter festivals in the region:
Tip-Up Town USA
For years Tip-Up Town USA in Houghton Lake has been the premiere winter celebration in Northern Michigan. The celebration spans nine days with plenty of events from motorcycle ice racing, dog sled demonstrations, ice softball, ice fishing contests, vintage snowmobile racing and frozen turkey bowling, to name a few.
Now in its 59th year, Tip-Up Town USA is one of the oldest and definitely the largest winter festivals in Michigan. Activities take place January 16 – 25. At $5 for the official Tip-Up Town USA badge (the entry fee), it remains as one of the best wintertime family values in Northern Michigan. Info: tip-up-townusa.com or by calling 989-366-5644.

The Great Indoor Folk Festival
This is the first year for the Great Indoor Folk Festival, which will be staged on the ground floor corridor of Building 50 at the Grand Traverse Commons on Saturday, Feb. 7.
Folkies from the Northern Michigan Songwriters in the Round are staging the event, with four stages to be spread throughout the building, including a band stage, duo stage and kids’ music stage. There will also be an open mic stage in Another Cuppa’ Joe for members of the public who wish to get up and play.
The Indoor Folk Fest will be free and open to the public, with CDs from the musicians on sale -- the perfect present for Valentine’s Day.

Forest Dunes Winter Games
Located near Grayling, Forest Dunes Golf Club debuts its winterfest President’s Day Weekend February 13-15. The Forest Dunes Winter Games anchor activity will be the Zamboni Driving School. The Zamboni is the machine that smoothes the ice surface between periods at hockey games. This year, the NHL will host an outdoor game at Wrigley Field in Chicago between the Red Wings and the Blackhawks. The Zamboni and its driver from that game will make their way north for a unique opportunity for anyone with a current driver’s license an opportunity to learn how to drive a Zamboni.
“We are even going to give everyone their own Zamboni driver’s license with their photo on it,” said Mark Gurnow, Forest Dunes general manager. “Basically anyone interested will go through an abbreviated course taught by the guy who teaches the NHL Zamboni drivers. It will be fun.”
Participants will also have an opportunity to try several other winter activities, from curling to broomball to pond hockey. Recerational snowshoeing and cross country skiing will also be available, as well as a competitive snowshoe race for money and prizes.
Info: forestdunesgolf.com or call 989-275-0700.

Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest
Hosted by the Grand Traverse Resort Casino and Spa in cooperation with the National Cherry Festival, the Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest is now in its third year. Taking place February 13-15, the weekend is a “winterized” version of the Cherry Festival.
Highlights include a polar plunge, ice carvings, the Frosty 5K race, cherry pie eating contests, frozen bed race, music, horse drawn sleigh rides and more. Activities are held at the Grand Traverse Resort and in downtown Traverse City.
Info:grandtraverseresort.com or by
calling the Cherry Festival at 800- 968-3380.Other Goodies:
Don’t miss the Benzie County Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 14 in Beulah, with a frozen fish toss, snowmobile poker run, hay rides, rubber duck race and fireworks over Crystal Lake.
Also, the Bay Harbor Ice and Spice Festival Jan. 16-17 is a must-visit for its fabulous ice carving exhibitions and sculptures. Info: bayharbor.com/icefestival or call 231.439.2000.
February offers three great festivals: The Mackinaw Mush Sled Dog Race in Mackinaw City on Feb. 1; the 81st Annual Winter Carnival at the Winter Fun Park in Petoskey on Feb. 17; and the Winter Fun Festival on Mackinac Island, Feb. 20-22.

Let’s Get Physical-- Winter Race Guide
On your marks, get set, go for it... with these great ski, snowshoe and running races.

Dec. 27: Holiday Classic 12k and 8k XC ski races at Boyne Valley Lodge, Walloon Lake.

Jan. 3: Chestnut Valley Skate 11k race, Nub’s Nob, Harbor Springs.

Jan. 4: Boyne Highlands Classic 5k and 11k at Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs.

Jan. 17: Frozen Foot Race. A tradition in Traverse City for more than 20 years, this five-mile road race heads out Mission Peninsula from Eastern Elementary School at 10 a.m. Contact Running Fit in TC for registration form.
Jan. 17-18: Garland Gripper & Glide, XC events from 6-11k at Garland Resort, Lewiston.

Jan. 24: Bigfoot Snowshoe Race offers a 5K and 10K romp down the Vasa Trail from the Timber Ridge Nordic Center, south of TC. Contact Running Fit in TC for registration form.

Jan. 30: Women’s Winter Tour on snowshoes and XC skis at Crystal Mountain. Check www.womenswintertour.com to register.

Jan. 31-Feb. 1: Michigan Cup Marathon and Hanson Hills Classic, with XC races from 6k-30k at Hanson Hills, Grayling.

Feb. 6: The White Pine Stampede celebrates its 33rd year with 10k, 20k and 40k events running from Mancelona to Shanty Creek Ski Resort. See www.whitepinestampede.org or your local ski/bike shop to register.

Feb. 13-15: North American Vasa includes 12k, 27k and 50k races on the Vasa Trail in TC. Contact www.vasa.org or your local ski shop for a registration form.

Feb. 28: Black Mountain Classic, 30k XC races at Black Mountain, Cheboygan.

March 7-8: Boyne Highlands Classic & Freestyle 15k races.
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