to Saturday, January 17, 2015
Enjoy Amateur & Professional Snow Sculpting competition, Sleigh/Wagon Rides, Outhouse Races, Poker Walk, Indoor Ice Skating, Arts & Crafts,Chili Cook Off and Euchre Tournament at Mancino's of Mackinaw City. A before, after and during party at the Dixie Saloon. Ice Fishing tournament from 8am to 2pm on Paradise Lake {weather permitting}. Registration at Paradise Lake Marina in Carp Lake, MI. Warming Station at the Pancake Chef. And Many more Fun Winter Activities including: games for Kids, Tweens & Adults beginning at 12:45 pm located at: 216 East Central Ave.
Other fun winter activities include Games for kids, and adults beginning at 12:15 pm at the New 216 E Central Ave location- the Arnoldline playground park. Enjoy an icy game of Tug of War, snowy bean bag toss, Paul Bunyan ladder golf, frosty Hula Hoops and more. Games sponsors include Pinecrest Village, Mackinaw City Medical Clinic and Sleep Diagnostics.
The Mackinaw City Art Exhibit features at least 10 area artists displayed at Mackinaw Clothing. Sponsored by the Mackinaw City Area Arts Council, a wide variety of media will be displayed including: watercolors, oil paintings, woodcarvings, duck decoys, photography, jewelry and more. An opening reception and meet the Artists will take place from 3:00pm-4:30pm on Friday January 17 The exhibit will continue Saturday from 10-6pm and on Sunday the 19th from 10am -2pm when the exhibit will close.
The Chili Cook Off competition begins at 11:00am and runs till 1:00pm at JR’s Tailgate Pub. Come early to taste and vote for your favorite recipe. (To place a chili entry a registration form is needed and only the first 5 registrations will be accepted due to space requirements.) The Chamber Ambassador’s coordinate this annual event. Tasting and people’s choice awards require a $3.00 Red 2014 Winterfest Button. Rules and entry forms are available from the Chamber of Commerce 231 436-5574 www.mackinawchamber.com
Mancino’s* Euchre Tournament from 1:00pm to 3:00pm has a $5.00 entry fee with a 2013 Winterfest button. Action takes place at 717 S Nicolet St at Mancino’s restaurant. Registration begins at 11:00am. Call owner, Diane Fry, for more information on this fun and “warm” event at 231 436-7474. Must be 18 years or older to participate. *Verify the location on Event day.
Weather permitting, the amateur Snow sculpting competition will begin on Thursday, January 16, and continue through Saturday AM, January 18, Judging and awards for the sculptors will be Saturday at 12:00 PM and cash prizes are sponsored by the Mackinaw Area Visitor’s Bureau. Local amateur snow sculptors can register for the competition until Friday January 10 which is also the sculpting event cancel date due to lack of good snow available for the blocks to be made.
Ice fishing contest on Paradise Lake is sponsored by the Friends of Paradise Lake. $900.00 in cash prizes! All welcome-$15.00 entry fee with Winterfest Pin Saturday January 18th from 8am-2pm. Meet at the Marina for registration. For pre registration, Ice conditions or event details call the Marina 231-537-4714.
Join in the fun! $1000.00 Grand Prize- The Mackinaw Pepsi International Outhouse Race is Saturday January 18th. The event takes place next to the Dixie Saloon in the Shepler’s Ferry Lot along Lake Huron. Races start at 2pm and are expected to last until 3:30p.m. A parade of outhouses takes place on Saturday just ahead of the races. The event is free to the public and is comical entertainment for the whole family. Saturday audience members vote the prettiest, most traditional and most unusual outhouses. Teams compete for cash and trophies as well as “world bragging rights”.
Outhouse themes vary in styles and originality, encouraging teams, companies, groups or families to be creative. Favorite entrants include last years First Place winner- “The Potty of Gold”, “The Dixie Keg,” “Wee Wee Tee Pee,” “ Flamingo Flushers, ”Red Bull” “The Urinator,” “ Rock ‘n Roller two hole-r,” Team Corn and more.
Rules are as follows: The outhouse must be on skis. Must have a 5 person team, one inside and 4 outside to push or pull. It must have a toilet seat and material to wipe with. Entry must have a name. Entrants under 18 must have a parent’s signature and all teams/participants must sign a waiver. For more information on this event or to enter a team, visit www.mackinawouthouserace.com or 24/7 Hamilton 1 800 301-1765
Other events located on Central Ave. include the warming house at Pancake Chef plus the Pageant Parade committee Friday Fish Fry on the 3rd Friday or January 17, New location and sponsor BC Pizza for the Poker walk from 10:15 to 1:15, prizes at 1:30pm. The popular sleigh/wagon rides by Don Cowell begin at 11:30am -2:30pm sponsored by Marshall’s Fudge & Candy and Mackinaw Clothing. Various restaurants and bar’s are offering Winterfest specials and/or entertainment Thursday through Sunday.
Many activities are free with a $3.00 2014 Winterfest limited edition button/pin. Collector buttons can be purchased at the Chamber of Commerce location at 226 E. Central Ave next to Scalawag’s, Marshall’s Fudge, Mancino’s, Audie’s, IGA, Dixie Saloon and various businesses around town will sell the buttons. Event day they will be sold at event sites until gone. Check the number on back of your button and you can win from $2.00 to $20.00 Winning numbers will be posted at 11:00am at Pancake Chef, BC Pizza, Marshall’s Fudge, Chamber, Outhouse Race and Carp Lake Ice fishing event. Winterfest button winners must claim their winning envelopes event day at BC Pizza till 2pm, Sat &Sun Marshall’s Fudge then at the Chamber of Commerce Office by Friday, January 24, 2014
Audie’s Black Tie Scholarship Ball is on Saturday, January 18th from 8pm to midnight. Enjoy live music, a cocktail reception, Chef Nick’s gourmet hors d’ oeuvres, plus a wonderful silent auction. For more information call Audie’s at 231 436-5744. Advance Tickets
Sunday January 19 the Church of the Straits presents “Stone Soup” and a soup lunch following the service is open to the community. January is Food Pantry awareness month and tours of how the program works is available each Sunday.