The 33rd annual Mackinac Island Winter Festival will feature outdoor activities at Great Turtle Park Saturday, February 7, and indoor activities at Mackinac Island Public School Sunday, February 8.

Participants in the festival must purchase a $3 button that will automatically include them in door prize drawings. Buttons can be purchased on location.

Highlighting Saturday's events is a horse-hitch sleigh ride with the Haflinger pony, Blaze. Rides will begin at 1 p.m.

Food and beverages will be offered at the park, where a bonfire will be lit to keep visitors warm.

There will be many outdoor games available for young children, young adults, and adults throughout the day, beginning at noon.

In the evening, a Hollywoodthemed dance will begin at 7 p.m. at Mission Point Resort's Johnson Hall, and, at 8 p.m., a bonfire gathering will be held for teenagers at Great Turtle Park.

The City Recreation Department's volunteer of the year will be announced during Sunday's events. Also, the annual "Seasons of Mackinac" calendar photograph contest will be held throughout the day.

Deadline to submit eight-inch by 10-inch color horizontal photographs is Sunday, February 1. Drop off photographs at First National Bank on the Island or call Leanne Brodeur for more information at 847-3853.

Sunday brunch at the school will begin at 10 a.m. and will include pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, and fresh fruit.

Brunch costs $8 for adults and $4 for children.

There will be a 50/50 raffle and silent auction Sunday, with prizes including two airfare tickets, a commuter pass from Star Line ferry, a bicycle tune-up at Mackinac Wheels, a free fill-up of gas for a snowmobile at Union Terminal Piers, and a $50 savings bond from First National Bank of St. Ignace.

The festival will also include a snow sculpting contest. Participants must register and report their sculpture location to Brenda Bunker of First National Bank or Barb Fisher of Mackinac Island Public School by Thursday, February 5, to qualify for the contest. The sculpture must be visible from a main road.

Winners will be announced Sunday.

First place prize in the snow sculpture contest is $100, with $50 for second place, and $25 for third place.

The following is a list of times and events for the weekend's Winter Festival:

Saturday, February 7

Noon - bonfire, concession stand opens, snow golf, sledding contest, and games

Noon - 1:30 p.m. - kids games 12:30 p.m. - ski race, snow bowling

1 p.m. - sleigh rides, snowshoe competition, archery, snow hunt for young adults

2 p.m. - broom hockey at the park's horse ring

7 p.m. - Hollywood-themed dance at Mission Point Resort

8 p.m. - Teen bonfire gathering

Sunday, February 8

All day - bake sale, cookie contest, Seasons of Mackinac photograph contest, silent auction

10 a.m. - brunch

12:30 p.m. - poker run (five stop locations)

1 p.m. - kids carnival, cupcake walk and kids auction, archery, foil game

1:15 p.m. - snow volleyball in school playground

1:30 p.m. - dart ball

2 p.m. - bingo, announcement of Volunteer of the Year

3 p.m. - raffle drawing and announcements