Winter Festivals 2007-2008
Steel Drums
Festivals

Winter festivals and themed activities are as abundant as northern snowfall. Sometimes visitors plan their trips around the fun-filled events; other times, it’s a pleasant bonus to be in the area during community festivities. And for locals, the festivals provide another avenue for wintertime entertainment.

Here’s a look at some of the offerings around Northern Michigan during the 2007-08 season: 

Bay Harbor

Merchants in the Village at Bay Harbor will offer their holiday season open house from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Special promotions will be offered by many participating shops, with the lighting of Bay Harbor’s holiday decorations planned for 7 p.m.
Opportunities for children to visit with Santa will also be available in the village; check www.bayharbor.com for times and details.
Scheduling had not been determined before press time for the annual display of ice sculptures during the Ice Festival and also for the Ice and Spice Chili Cookoff, which serves as a fund-raiser for the Little Traverse Historical Society. Call Bay Harbor at 439-2000 for more info.
 

Boyne City

After a day of turkey and dressing, Christmas comes early in Boyne City, on Friday, Nov. 23.
Visitors are invited to enjoy holiday cheer during the annual Santa Parade and holiday open house. The open house and Flavor of Boyne will take place 5-9 p.m. downtown. Visit local businesses and organizations before the annual Santa parade for food and beverages, and finish up Christmas shopping.
The parade starts at 6 p.m., when Santa and his entourage will arrive downtown, ushering in an evening of caroling, hot cocoa, holiday floats, wishes with Santa and more.
 

Charlevoix

The annual tree lighting extravaganza event will be held downtown Charlevoix on Friday, Nov. 23. Community members are invited to decorate the community Christmas tree with homemade ornaments, 4-6 p.m.
Also beginning at 4 p.m., children may visit with Santa Claus at his Charlevoix  house, located at 222 Bridge St., and have a photo taken with him.
The annual merchants’ Christmas Open House will take place Saturday, Dec. 1. It takes place noon-8 p.m.
Each holiday season, the Charlevoix Public Library typically hosts a Family Fun Day, and the Charlevoix Historical Society puts on its Festive Settings Home Tour. Check with each organization for dates and times.
Also in Charlevoix, the Charlevoix Snowmobile Club will sponsor the seventh-annual Snowmobile Ride-In, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26, when snowmobile  riding will be permitted in town. Visit www.chxsnowmobile.com for more details.
 

Harbor Springs

Festivities begin in this charming community with the annual Christmas Tree Lighting, set for 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25, in downtown. Events will include caroling, the announcement of holiday decoration winners and the official lighting of the tree.
Holiday fun will continue in Harbor on Wednesday, Dec. 5,  when downtown is transformed into a winter wonderland for the annual Christmas Open House. From 6-9 p.m., visitors will ride sleighs, visit with Santa, enjoy food and goodies, listen to holiday music from carolers and the Harbor Springs Community Band, and shop for holiday gifts.
Harbor Springs comes alive again with activities during President’s Day weekend. The Harbor Springs Chamber of Commerce and the SK8 Park will host a Chili Cook-Off and the annual Cardboard Classic.
The events will be held from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 17, at Walstrom Marine and the SK8 Park along M-119. Visitors are invited to sample the variety of chili made by contestants or race their homemade cardboard sleds.
 

Anticipation

Petoskey

The parade that heralds the holiday season in Petoskey will march into downtown at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 24. Stafford’s Downtown Petoskey Holiday Parade will include Santa Claus, clad in Victorian attire, making his annual local entrance. He will be available following the event to meet with children at Stafford’s Perry Hotel.
Other parade features include floats, musicians, costumed characters and more.
Petoskey’s downtown streets will be closed to vehicles the evening of Friday, Dec. 7, for the much-anticipated annual Christmas Open House. This will give pedestrians the chance to travel freely among the shops and enjoy the holiday activities. Many merchants offer special treats and promotions, Santa will be on hand for a tree-lighting in Pennsylvania Park, with a variety of refreshments and live entertainment offered around the business district.
Santa will also be available for pictures with children at Stafford’s Perry Hotel on weekends leading up to Christmas. Call the Perry at 347-4000 for dates and times.
Petoskey’s annual Winter Carnival  will provide a day and evening filled with cold-weather fun on Saturday, Feb. 16, at the Petoskey Winter Sports Park. Organized by the Petoskey Department of Parks and Recreation, the event is expected to include activities such as the bumpjump competition, Cardboard Challenge sledding event, children’s sled races and a figure-skating exhibition.
For more info, call the rec department at 347-2500.
The Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce will also host its Wonder Weekend in March in Petoskey’s business district. Participating merchants will offer a variety of classes and  demonstrations related to their products and services. For more details and the date and times, contact the chamber at 347-4150.
 

East Jordan

The 2008 Sno-Blast snowmobile event will be held Friday-Sunday, Jan. 18-20, under a theme that is yet to be announced. The 27th annual event includes a parade, snowmobile drag races and an antique snowmobile show, as well as snow sculpture and snow-shoeing contests.
There will be a number of food events throughout the weekend, beginning with a chili supper Friday night and including a  stew supper on Saturday night, and the famous Sno-mobilers’ breakfast on Sunday.
Highlights include the Belle of the Blizzard and Winter Knight contest and an annual moonlight snowshoe hike.
For more info, call (231) 536-7351, or visit www.ejchamber.org.
 

Mackinaw City

Once the snow starts flying, Mackinaw City will be celebrating the winter season. The village’s “Christmas in Mackinaw” events will be held Friday-Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 2. It all kicks off at 5 p.m. Friday with a car parade, which will lead holiday decorated cars along the main business road to the village Christmas tree. Following the tree lighting, Santa will visit with children and hot chocolate will help keep visitors warm.
Other weekend events include Christmas movies, caroling and holiday shopping. Mackinaw City’s Winter Festival annually takes place the third weekend in January.
Weather permitting, events have included professional snow-sculpturing, a gumbo cook-off, children’s games, frozen chicken bowling, a frozen buffalo chip toss, sleigh rides and ice fishing tournament on Paradise Lake.
Dog sled racers from around the country converge on Mackinaw City for the Mackinaw Mush Dog Sled Race, set for Feb. 2-3. Events include several classes of sled-dog races, along with a children’s mini-mush and celebrity race.
Another anticipated annual event is the Snowball, sponsored by the Mackinaw City Area Chamber of Commerce. The elegant event will be held 8 p.m.-midnight Saturday, Jan. 26, at St. Anthony’s Parish Life Center. For more info, contact the chamber at (231) 436-5574.
 

Boyne Highlands, Krazy Daze

The annual Krazy Daze at Boyne Highlands in Harbor Springs will be held Saturday, March 15, with wacky contests and  fun races offered for kids and the whole family. The adult events will include the Dual GS Race, Ski Over the Pond and Captain’s Cup, plus a costume contest. Kids’ events include a silly slalom.
 

Boyne Mountain, Carnival Weekend

Think Mardi Gras with snow. Northern Michigan becomes the destination for Spring Break during a weekend of wild events at Boyne Mountain.
This year’s Carnival takes place Friday-Sunday, March 14-16. The sometimes-raucous revelry takes place all day long out on the slopes, and visitors travel long distances to join locals in this nearly springtime celebration. Events include the Slush Cup, where dozens of party-goers test their skills over a slush pool. Costume contests are also held.
 

Nub’s Nob, Mardi Gras

Nub’s Nob will host its spring fling, the annual Mardi Gras party, on Saturday, March 22, celebrating a little spring fun in the snow.
Events include the Soaker Cup Challenge, where a pond is built at the base of the Scarface run and skiers and boarders attempt to ski across it, often in costume. The crazy couple’s race and Pepsi challenge are among the other events for family members of all ages.