February is Snow Fun

Chili! Yetis! Scavenger Hunts! Sled! Silent Disco! And … bikinis!?

For some, February is when the winter doldrums start to set in (though that happened three months ago for others). Regardless, what better way to reckon with those feelings than to embrace the frosty temperatures. Bundle up and get outside to schuss, slide, or straddle a big sled at one of these frosty-fun outdoor events happening Up North this February.

East Jordan Sno-Blast, Feb. 19-20
Antique and Blessed Sleds, Chili, Tacos, Bikini Run, Luminary Sip n’ Stroll
Quick, where can you find the Belle of the Blizzard and the Winter Knight, be part of the Blessing of the Sleds, take in the Antique Snowmobile Show, even enjoy a taco dinner? If you said the East Jordan Sno-Blast, you’ve obviously been to the Charlevoix County town’s favorite February event. 

This year marks the 41st, though the first Belle of the Blizzard was crowned way back in 1936, predating the Sno-Blast. Most of the festivities take place at the East Jordan Sno-Mobilers Clubhouse on Mt. Bliss Road, including the crowning of the aforementioned belle and knight, the chili cookoff, live music, and a raffle drawing.

What’s fun? For those who love classic car shows, you can check out the winter version. The Classic & Antique Snowmobile Show opens at 9am Feb. 19 at the East Jordan Sno-Mobile Clubhouse. And hey, there’s no entry fee. This is your chance to see old model Ski-Doo or Arctic Cat, as well as classic brands that are no longer with us, like Scorpion, Chaparral, and Sno Jet.

East Jordan Area Chamber of Commerce Events Coordinator Shannon Fender says the most popular event is Saturday’s Bikini Radar [snowmobile] Run, a breast cancer fundraiser. “It’s not all women. There are several men that do it,” she says.

Other events include Story Time at Books N Things and a Winter Luminary Stroll & Sip at Martha Wagbo Farm and Education Center. For more information, go to East Jordan Sno-Blast on Facebook or ejchamber.org.

Suttons Bay Yeti Fest, Feb. 19      
Yeti Lessons, Scavenger Hunt, Ice Skating, Small Foot & Silent Disco
Billed “The Best Yeti Fest this side of the Himalayas,” the annual celebration of wintertime in Suttons Bay returns Saturday, Feb. 19 with activities for all ages. But wait, you might wonder, is there really such a thing as a yeti? Just how big is a yeti? What does a yeti smell like? And how can we determine if that big furry thing over there is a yeti, or a sasquatch, or … maybe a bear standing on two legs? The Suttons Bay Library’s 10:30 am Yeti Discovery Program will help answer these questions, plus offer stories, crafts, and snacks for the curious. 

That’s just the start of the fun. At the Yeti Scavenger Hunt, the more missions you successfully complete, the better your chances to win a gift basket. The Bay Theatre will host Small Foot for free at 12:30pm. And the village skating rink will host demonstrations by the Traverse City Figure Skating Club.  

You won’t want to miss the Yeti Chili Cook-Off, with numerous restaurants vying for the title of best Yetifest Chili. Yetifest chair Stacy Sheren says this will be one of the key events toward the fundraising aspect of the celebration, as the judge will accept/encourage bribes, with all funds going toward village beautification projects (trees, flowers, and even public restrooms).

The awards ceremony will take place at 5pm at Yeti Central, a.k.a. the 5/3 Bank parking lot (120 N. St. Joseph St.) where the winners of the scavenger hunt and chili cook-off will be announced, as will the king and queen of the evening’s Snowball at Suttons Bay High School. Then head to Hop Lot for the silent disco. For all the info, go to www.suttonsbayarea.com/yetifest.

Michigan Snowmobile Festival, Gaylord, Feb. 25-26
Braaaap! Guided Ride, One County, Nine Restaurants & Big Money
Hot on the heels of Gaylord’s 10th annual Alpenfrost Feb. 19 & 20 — with a Frosty 5K, a moonlit snowshoe hike through the grounds of Otsego Resort, and more — comes the Michigan Snowmobile Festival, which takes place throughout Otsego County the following weekend. Christy Walcott, the director of marketing and communications for the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau, says the purpose is simple: “Get the people out riding the trails and seeing the beauty” of the area.

This is the fifth year for the two-day festival but only the third time it has taken place. Walcott said it was canceled last year due to COVID, and once due to rain. No such worries this time around — Walcott says the forecast calls for continued cold temperatures and there’s plenty of snow on the trails.

Dubbed “Michigan’s Richest Snowmobile Fun Run,” the Michigan Snowmobile Festival gives riders have two days to visit nine restaurants in and around Gaylord, Johannesburg, Vanderbilt, and Waters, and drop off their registration slips. The event concludes on Saturday at the Eagles Hall (515 South Wisconsin Ave.), with live music, beverages, complimentary food, prizes, and the $1,000 cash drawing. (You must be present and at least 18 years old to win any prize.)

Though a guided ride will start at 10:30 a.m. from the Tourism Bureau office on Saturday, snowmobilers do not have to start at the same time, follow the same route, or make it to every stop. Walcott says the event typically draws around 200 participants ranging from locals to those from downstate as well as Indiana and Ohio. Go to tinyurl.com/5n8768v2 for registration or more information.

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