Festival Set for Saturday
Highlight Will Be Winter Sports at Mackinac Island

Mackinac Island's 31st annual Winter Festival will begin with a medley of outdoor events at Great Turtle Park Saturday, February 3, at noon. Events will also be held the following day at Mackinac Island Public School.

Events at Great Turtle Park include skiing, a balloon stomp, sledding, snow golf, a turtle race, snow hunt for the older children, an egg hunt, winter obstacle course, broom hockey, flag football, and a human dog sled race.

The festival also includes a snow turtle building contest. Participants can register with either Barb Fisher at the school or Brenda Bunker at First National Bank. Sculptures must be registered and finished by Friday, February 2. They must also be visible from the main road for judges to see. First and second prizes are $100 and $50, respectively.

The park's concession stand will sell hot dogs, chili, s'mores, and hot beverages.

A sock hop will be held at Mission Point Resort's Johnson Hall at 7 p.m., while Patrick Sinclair's Irish Pub will feature the Pub Runners band for adults beginning at 8 p.m.

A hot brunch will be served at the school at 10 a.m. Sunday, followed by indoor and outdoor games, a bake sale, a silent auction, and the popular photograph contest for the 2009 Seasons of Mackinac calendar, sponsored by Mackinac Island Recreational Development.

The photograph contest begins at 10 a.m. and will continue throughout the day. Participants can vote for their favorite photographs taken by residents and visitors, sorted by season.

Snow bowling and a prize walk will begin at 11 a.m. A poker run will begin at 12:30 p.m. at the school.

Akids carnival and magic show, featuring Jamie Andress, will begin at 1 p.m. as well as an archery contest and snow volleyball.

Bingo will begin at 1:30 p.m. in the school's multipurpose room. The festival will end with a raffle drawing at 3 p.m.

Those who would like to participate in the Winter Festival must purchase a festival button for $3 per person or $12 per family. Buttons can be purchased the day of the festival at Turtle Park, or at the school.