Winter Wonderfest

Feb. 28, 2007

This weekend, when the Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest debuts at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Tom Menzel will have a big smile on his face.
When Menzel was hired last year as the new executive director of the National Cherry Festival, he knew he would have to make some tough decisions and several changes to the way the festival conducts business. The festival has had its share of challenges in its 80-year history, and festivals, in general, around the country are faced with financial challenges as corporate America continues to cut back on sponsorships.
In recent years, the Cherry Festival has been faced with financial challenges, an outdated management structure, and some image issues. So last spring Menzel and his staff starting digging in. Despite some challenges, Menzel felt that there were many positives about the festival that would bode well for its future.
“We have an infrastructure in place and a proven track record to manage and promote large events,” said Menzel. “So I figured we needed to step outside of the eight-day window we are known for and look to manage and create additional events. Our future financially depends on it.”
 
YEAR-ROUND
Winter WonderFest will be the first of what Menzel hopes will be several endeavors that will give the National Cherry Festival a year-round face in the community.
Festival organizers thought they might have to wait a year to launch a new festival but had a lucky break when they learned through their concert promoter Rick Shimel that the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa was looking to create a winter festival.
“Like many hospitality businesses in Northern Michigan we here at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa struggle with wintertime business,” said Doug LaPlaca, director of marketing at the Resort. “Several communities around the region have successful winter festivals and we felt with our facilities and amenities we were a natural to host such an event. So when we met with the Cherry Festival the concept immediately took shape.”
Both the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa and the National Cherry Festival see this as a community event that they hope to grow and expand in the future.
“This is more than a Grand Traverse Resort & Spa event,” said LaPlaca. “We are investing a lot of money into this in the first year to get it going. But we see this event expanding and spilling over into our destination area with several other entities offering events next year. This is about collaboration and growing our region as a year round destination. We look forward to a successful year this year and expanding that collaborative circle next year.”
 
EVENT-FILLED
Despite limited time the Resort and the Cherry Festival used their resources to quickly put together an event filled weekend that will appeal to the family or to couples looking for a romantic getaway. Both LaPlaca and Menzel are quick to point out that while they hope to bring in visitors for the weekend this is very much an event for locals.
Weekend activities range from a “Winter Fun Zone” an outdoor centered attraction featuring ice skating, sledding, horse-drawn sleigh rides, a “snowdeck park” (yes, skateboarding on snow), snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing to the Ice and Snow Carving Exhibition, a collection of intriguing ice and snow carvings, created by professional artists to include world champion Steven Berkshire will be on display in Grand Traverse Resort’s Outdoor Pavilion surrounded by lights, music, and winter activities; and the Northern Lights Adventure Film Festival, an indoor celebration of 20 independently produced, inspiring films, all exploring outdoor adventure, culture and the environment.                   
Beyond the three-day buttoned events, organizers are producing a wine and food enthusiasts will have an opportunity to treat their taste buds to an unforgettable wine pairing dinner prepared by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.  During the Cherry Capital Wine Pairing Dinner, guests will learn about the regionally crafted wines and pairing techniques that were implemented in preparing the evening’s meal.  Following the dinner, guests will receive VIP seating for an evening with internationally acclaimed flutist Alexander Zonjic in Governors Ballroom. 
Participants purchase a $10 Winter WonderFest button that includes admission to all activities (except the Cherry Capital Wine Pairing Dinner). Proceeds will benefit the Michigan Special Olympics. For advance button purchases, additional information or to take advantage of overnight accommodation specials visit www.grandtraverseresort.com, or call the Resort at (800) 236-1577

Winter WonderFest Schedule:

Friday, March 2
11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Pavilion) Winter Fun Zone and
Traverse City Ice Carving Exhibition, Ice Skating & Bonfire
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Pavilion) Cross-Country Skiing, Sledding 
& Snowshoeing
2 - 7 p.m. (Pavilion) Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
7:30 - 10 p.m. (Tower Ballroom) Northern Lights Adventure Film Festival, Showing #1
6:30 - 10:30 p.m. (Governors’ Hall) Cherry Capital Wine Pairing Dinner & Alexander Zonjic Concert

Saturday, March 3
11 a.m. - 9 p.m. (Pavilion) Winter Fun Zone and Traverse City Ice Carving Exhibition, Ice Skating & Bonfire
11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Pavilion) Cross-Country Skiing, Sledding 
& Snowshoeing
2 - 7 p.m. (Pavilion) Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides
1 - 3:30 p.m. (Tower Ballroom) Northern Lights Adventure Film Festival, Showing #2
4 p.m. (55th Hole)  Frozen Bed Race
7:30 p.m. (Pavilion) Spectacular Fireworks Display
8 - 10:30 p.m. (Tower Ballroom) Northern Lights Adventure Film Festival, Showing #3

Sunday, March 4
8 a.m. (Healthclub) Frozen Cherry 5K Running Race
11 a.m. - 4 p.m. (Pavilion) Winter Fun Zone and Traverse City Ice Carving Exhibition, Ice Skating, Sledding & Bonfire
1 - 4 p.m. (Pavilion) Horse Drawn Sleigh Rides.