| Feature
Celebrate February fun in the U.P.
by Greg Peterson & MM staff
The snow is finally here, and winter fun and sports are in full swing across the Upper Peninsula, with all the favorites like sled dog races, ice fishing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, ice climbing and more.
Organizers of the annual events say it takes dedicated volunteers and sponsors to keep the efforts alive—which is important as the events are vital to the Upper Peninsula economy.
In Copper Harbor, February includes an ice fishing tournament and antique snowmobile races.
“Keweenaw County has the potential to be the big recreation playground because we have ice fishing, Mount Bohemia in Lac La Belle with the largest vertical drop in the whole Midwest, ice skating, snowshoeing, great snowmobiling terrain and the Keweenaw Mountain Lodge,” said Peg Kauppi, co-owner of Mariner North in Copper Harbor that sponsors many events. “We are inviting people to do winter in the Keweenaw because of all the opportunities, and you can parallel them with the summer events and recreational opportunities. People can play on our playground in the winter time.”
In Alger County, snowmobile races, skiing to food buffets, ice climbing and ice fishing are just a few of the numerous events in the Munising area and on Lake Superior.
“Winter drives the economy in Munising,” said Lisa Cromell, director of the Munising School Public Library.
Year-long outdoor sports and events are a vital part of the economy because everything centers around tourism for Munising, she said.
“We are a four-seasons destination, and, for many years, people thought winter in Munising was just snowmobiling, but these winterfests and events are really growing every year,” she said.
All you have to do is look down the street in any U.P. town and you’ll likely find a breathtaking winter event.
• February 3-7: Michigan Tech Winter Carnival, Houghton—Magnificent snow and ice sculptures of all kinds will be created by students during the eighty-ninth annual festival. Events include winter sports, fireworks, a torchlight parade and more. For details, call 487-2818 or visit www.mtu.edu/carnival
• February 5-7: Michigan Ice Fest 2010, Munising—The ice climbing festival attracts world-renowned experts and novices to climb the blue ice curtains along the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. It is designed to entice newcomers to the sport by providing training and the best rental equipment for bargain prices. About 450 climbers are expected and organizers hope those who have never tried ice climbing will come for the thrill of a lifetime. Known for climbing the world’s toughest peaks and glaciers, this year’s experts include Barry Blanchard, Ben Clark, Mark Wilford and Rapheal Slawinski. For details, call 226-7112, e-mail bill@down windsports.com or visit www.downwind sports.com
• February 6-7: Annual Tip-Up Town, Channing—For details on this fishing tournament, call 367-1893.
• February 7: Barneløpet ski race, Hancock—The Sons of Norway Ulseth Lodge 5-670 invites area youth and their families to the third annual ski race from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Maasto Hiihto ski trails in Hancock. The Barneløpet, a Norwegian word meaning “the children’s race,” is open to youth ages three through seventeen, and their families. The noncompetitive family ski race is free this year, with a suggested donation of $3 per skier or $5 per family. Registration begins at noon at the ski chalet. For details, call 482-0292.
• February 13: Ski for Heart, Calumet—The annual event takes place at the Swedetown Trails, and is a fundraiser for Omega House and the Copper Island Ski Club. Last year, 144 participants skied or snowshoed and raised $9,587. Omega House is a hospice home offering compassionate care for people who are terminally ill and lack the support and resources to live out their final days on their own. Copper Island Ski Club operates Swedetown Recreational Area. A minimum $10 donation is required to participate. For details, call 337-1170.
• February 13: Moose Lodge Fishing Derby, Munising—The derby is on Michigan’s free fishing weekend from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at AuTrain Lake. Entry is $10 for adults and free for children twelve and younger accompanied by an adult. Prizes will be awarded for fish categories at the lodge after the derby. Dinner is set for 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the lodge. Tickets are available at the lodge and at the lake boathouse.
• February 13: Family Ice Fishing Derby, Negaunee—Organizers hope children pull in whopper pike, walleye and perch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Sponsored by Child & Family Services of the Upper Peninsula, proceeds from the derby go to family programs across the U.P. Organizers have tons of prizes for children’s games and fishing contests. Cost is $25 per adult and $35 per couple, with the first youth free and $5 for each additional child. The event includes hot beverages, a heated tent and other shelter. Lunch can be purchased. For details, call 228-4050, e-mail bnease@cfsup.org or visit www.cfsup.org
• February 13: Winter Carnival, Curtis—The event on South Manistique Lake offers numerous events like a chili cook-off, ice fishing, music, ice golf, turkey bowling, children’s mini-sled challenge, snow sculptures and much more.
• February 13: Cabin Fever Saturday, Grand Marais—The event, held at the community center, offers snowmobile poker, a snowman-building contest, cardboard sled races, snowshoe baseball, snowshoe poker and a chili cook-off. Call 494-2447 for details.
• February 13-14: Fishing Derby, Big Bay—The thirtieth annual derby is sponsored by the Big Bay 550 Snowmobile Club on Lake Independence. Registration is at Perkins Park. Cash prizes for adults are $100, $50 and $25 for each of the biggest pike, walleye and perch (suckers are $25). Cash prizes for children for same species are $75, $50 and $25. The Jim Horton Award is given for the U.P.’s only team ice fishing contest. Preregistered teams get points for their largest pike, walleye and perch with prizes of $300, $100 and $50. Call 345-0075 or visit www.bigbay550snowmobileclub.org/html/fishing_derby.html for details.
• February 18: Winter Stories, Munising—The seventeenth century exploits of the French fur traders across Lake Superior will be told during the third annual “Winter Stories” event at 6:00 p.m. at the Falling Rock Café and Bookstore in Munising to raise money for a variety of projects at the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore not funded by the government. NMU professor Dan Truckey will tell tales and sing the songs of the Voyageurs during their quest for pelts in the untamed north. Hosted by the private nonprofit National Parks of Lake Superior Foundation, the series recounts the cultural traditions of the Lake Superior region while supporting all five National Park Service sites on Lake Superior. Tickets are $12 and are available at the Brownstone Inn, People’s State Bank, Munising Community Credit Union, Munising Partnership, and the Falling Rock Café & Bookstore. Call 869-7037 for details.
• February 18-21: Munising Winterfest, Munising—The Munising Winterfest will be held in Downtown Munising, featuring the finish line of the Midnight Run Dog Sled Race. Events include pet parade, human dog sled race, cardboard classic sled race, kiddie mutt races, talent show, cross-country skiing, snowshoe races, campfire with the Boy Scouts, chili walk, winter movie and kids games. For details, call 387-2138 or visit www.munisingwinterfest.com
• February 19-20: Antique/Vintage Snowmobile Show and Ride, Naubinway—For details, call 477-6298.
• February 19-21: Antique Snowmobile Show and Radar Run, Copper Harbor—The fifth annual event offers drag races, radar runs, antique sled show and rides, bonfire and social, live music and more. Friday events include the welcome reception/social and a bonfire in Grant Township Park (bring your own beverage). Saturday events include the mid-morning ride and cookout, the antique sled preview (Parking lot of Mariner North) and showing plus registration, an antique snowmobile parts swap meet at the Copper Harbor visitor center, the nonsanctioned “Stride-for-Pride Radar Run” using the sheriff department’s radar gun during the race, awards and trophy presentation and live music at the Mariner North in Copper Harbor. Participants are entered into a drawing for a pair of 1971 Arctic Cat snowmobiles to be given away Saturday night. Sunday events include a morning ride to the top of Brockway Mountain. For details, call 369-0627 or e-mail dubya1965@yahoo.com
• February 19-21: UP200 Sled Dog Race, Marquette—The race starts at 7:10 p.m. Friday in downtown Marquette and finishes Sunday at Marquette’s lower harbor. Opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The Midnight Run Race starts at 6:00 p.m. at Larry’s Family Foods in Gwinn and finishes in Munising. Call 228-3072 or visit www.up200.org for details.
• February 20: Snowball Dance, Munising—The second annual dance starts at 8:00 p.m. at the Munising Moose Lodge, featuring Evergreen Seven. Tickets are $5 in advance and $5.50 at the door. Call 387-2879 or visit www.exploremunising.com/events/snowball-dance.html
• February 20: Glacier Glide, Marquette—Art lovers can walk or use skies and snowshoes on the groomed trails to enjoy imaginative works created by U.P. artists during the twenty-second annual outdoor winter art exhibit sponsored by the Lake Superior Art Association from noon to 5:00 p.m. at Presque Isle in Marquette. “Glacier Glide is always an exciting event,” said organizer Cindy Deo. “The outdoor venue is a challenge to artists, which adds to their creativity and adds a lot of enjoyment for the spectators.” Entry and participation is free and exhibitors must set up at the Pavilion from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. Youth art is exhibited in the log Pavilion. Judges and the public vote for awards. The show is juried with awards and prize money is awarded at 5:00 p.m. in the pavilion. Spectators can cast their vote for “Best of Snow” in both adult and youth categories. Cookies and hot chocolate and cider are provided. Call 225-0254, e-mail cdeo@charter.net or visit www.artonthe rocks.org
• February 21: Snow Shoe Shuffle, Gladstone—Call 428-4457 for details.
• February 26-27: Antique and Vintage Snowmobile Show, Big Bay—Vintage snowmobiles will be admired and their engines will roar. On Friday at 10:00 a.m., a twenty-five-mile round-trip vintage snowmobile ride will be held from the Big Bay Motel to Giannunzio Field. A short antique ride leaves the motel at noon. The event includes a bonfire and cookout. Registration (no entry fee) is from 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the motel. A free spectator show will be held from noon to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Other Saturday events include a mini-sled fun run for children twelve and younger at 1:00 p.m.; a snowman contest with cash prizes from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., a sawdust pile treasure hunt at 2:00 p.m., a snowmobile cake contest with cash prizes (snowmobile replicas must be ninety percent edible), the crowning of the prince and princess at 3:00 p.m., and the “Great American Toilet Bowl Race Fun Run.” A snowmobile raffle will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday for a 1972 Artic Cat Panther snowmobile. Tickets are $5 each or three tickets for $10. The event includes a Chinese raffle and a 50/50 raffle. Trophies and cash prizes will be awarded in several events. Call 345-9849 for details.
• February 26-28: Vintage Single Cylinder Lemans Style Enduro Snowmobile Race, Newberry—For details, call (800)831-7292.
• February 27-28: Munising 300 Snowmobile Race, Munising—The race is entitled “East Meets West” and is sponsored by the U.S. Cross-Country Snowmobile Racing Association. For details, visit www.usccracing.com
• February 27: Honey Bear Classic Ski Race, Big Bay—The race offers 15K and 30K events. Registration takes place from 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at Thunder Bay Inn. The races begin at noon and those participating in the 30K go around the new Big Bay Ski Pathway twice. The pathway is part of the Noquemanon network. “We are a satellite trail system of Noquemanon Trail Network (NTN),” said Kristi Mills, race director and co-owner of Big Bay Outfitters. The first race was in 1989 thanks to an enthusiastic group of Big Bay skiers, and has grown in numbers and sophistication over the years. “We have attracted skiers from out of the area like lower Michigan and Wisconsin,” Mills said. “The race has grown from a small quaint race to a more established event.” The trail is groomed regularly by volunteers. The awards ceremony is at 3:30 p.m. at the Thunder Bay Inn, followed by live music. Call 235-6861 or e-mail bigbayoutfitters@hotmail.com for details.
• February 27: Outhouse Classic, Trenary—Competitors race with homemade outhouses that have made the event world famous. For details, call 387-2138.
• February 27: Winter Fest, Caspian—For details on the event, held at the Caspian Ski Chalet, call (888)TRY-IRON.
MM
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