Youngsters riding scaled-down snowmobiles race around the corner of the track during the Kitty Cat snowmobile race Saturday, February 13, atop the ice on Hessel Bay. Flames engulfed Les, the Snowsfest snowman, Saturday morning, February 13, to begin the Les Cheneaux area's annual celebration of winter and anticipation of spring.

Local residents and visitors gathered in Hessel to witness this event, which organizers said symbolizes spring drawing near. Hundreds flocked to the area to take part in festival activities, which included children's snowmobile races on Hessel Bay, a book fair and arts and craft show in Cedarville, horse drawn sleigh rides, dogsled rides, a dog show, a poker run, and a fishing contest. Snowsfest was from Thursday, February 11, to Sunday, February 14.

Participants in the weekend events were asked to purchase a Snowsfest button for $4. Its design was created by Les Cheneaux Community Schools fourth grade student Trevor Kohlmann.

Scot Graden slides his son, Nicholas, across the ice of Hessel Bay Saturday, February 13, during Snowsfest while his siblings, Samantha (left) and Jay (back) look on. The Graden family, which also includes Pilar and Adrian Graden (not pictured) were visiting the area for the weekend from Saline. His winning design featured two snowmen playing cards outdoors, and he said he was inspired to draw this picture because he enjoys playing card games with his mother.

As Mike Miller and his family, of Cedarville, prepared for a sleigh ride around Hessel Saturday morning, he said they were enjoying the day of outdoor activities. Mr. Miller said the weather could not have been more perfect for the event.

Others came from farther away. Scot and Pilar Graden, of Saline, brought their family from southeast Michigan for the weekend. The couple and their children, Nicholas, Samantha, Adrian, and Jay, were making their own fun by sliding across the slick ice of Hessel Bay on their backs, as well as enjoying the festival's planned activities.

At right: Cane Ayres waits for the snowman burning Saturday, February 13, sitting in a snowman chair his grandfather, Bob Ayres of Cedarville, built during Snowsfest in Hessel. The family has been visiting the Les Cheneaux Islands every summer for the past few years. Last year, Mrs. Graden said, a local resident suggested they come for Snowsfest, something they said they would certainly do again.

Mike and Kara Russell of Marion, Ohio, were visiting their parents, who bought a home in Cedarville about two years ago, and brought their children, Max and Jillian, to the event. The family has been visiting the area in the summers for years, Mr. Russell said, but were enjoying their first Snowsfest Saturday.

Richard Carr of Cedarville and his great-grandson, Jacob St. Onge of Pickford, inspect one of the winning fish caught by Mr. Carr for the Snowsfest Ice Fishing contest. Mr. Carr tied for first place with John Thompson of Hessel. The winning fish measured 14-1/8 inches in length. (Photograph by Bertha Carr) Max and Jillian Russell got an opportunity to ride through the Mackinac Bay Nature Preserve Saturday, owing to dogsled rides provided by Lou Goldstein, who brought his team of dogs from Ohio.

Saturday, he and dog team trainee Rodney Galloway of Hessel offered 25 rides in exchange for donations to benefit the Mackinac County Animal Shelter.

Throughout the weekend, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and automobiles ferried fishing enthusiasts to and from their ice shanties on Hessel Bay and throughout the Les Cheneaux Islands. No fishing license was required for fishing February 13 and February 14, part of Michigan's free fishing weekend.

Above: Brooke Booth, 4, pictured on the snowmobile in the foreground, prepares for her run in the Kitty Cat snowmobile races Saturday, February 13, on the ice of Hessel Bay. Amy Polk from the Les Cheneaux Welcome Center said beautiful weather, hard-working volunteers, and enthusiastic participants made for one of the most successful Snowsfests the area has ever had.

"We were not sure what to expect with the down economy," Ms. Polk said. "I think it went really well, everything seemed to be pretty well attended."

The annual festival could never happen, she said, without many active volunteers, many of whom take leadership on specific aspects of the festival. Part of this volunteer effort this year was trucking in snow for local businesses to build snow statues and snow buddies, which were judged Friday afternoon.

Top, right: Nicholas Graden (left) plays with Brian Totonchi atop a pile of snow in the Hessel marina parking lot. Both boys came to the festival with their families from southeast Michigan. The Graden family lives in Saline and the Totonchi family in Royal Oak. A snow statue modeled after the board game Hungry Hungry Hippos won first place in the contest, designed by staff from Islands Insurance in Cedarville.

The lack of snow made a few changes to the festival, like the switch from horse-drawn sleigh rides to dray rides through town, but the pleasant weather made for wellattended events, Ms. Polk said.

In its second year, the Kitty Cat kids snowmobile races gathered a large crowd of spectators on Hessel Bay, where the young racers whizzed around the icy track.

"They draw a pretty big crowd," Ms. Polk said. "They are fun and exciting to watch. I think people really enjoy that."

At left: Snowsfest emcee Gary Engle interviews Les Cheneaux Elementary student Trevor Kohlmann, who was honored Saturday morning, February 13, for designing the 2010 Snowsfest buttons. The buttons were sold for admission to all events during the festival, and depicted two snowmen playing cards outdoors. Commentary from emcee Gary Engle was a new addition to the event this year and Ms. Polk said his announcements kept spectators updated on the schedule of events.

"He did a nice job," she said. "It keeps people informed and keeps the flow going. It was a nice addition and we hope to have him back next year."

In addition to the Ice Hole Golf Scramble on Hessel Bay, Sunday also featured skate and dance events at the Community Center in Cedarville, organized by the Lucas Izzard Foundation for Teens.

Mark Clymer from the foundation said the event was an opportunity to get the organization more visibility in the community, since they are working to create official nonprofit status. By partnering with the Sault Tribe Alive Youth organization, Mr. Clymer said they planned to host many more events like Sunday's and also work on proactive programs to train community members to better listen and respond to people in need.

At right: Max and Jillian Russell, from Marion, Ohio, prepare for a dogsled ride with Lou Goldstein, who was also visiting from Ohio with his dogsled team and offered rides to Snowsfest participants Saturday, February 13, in the Mackinac Bay Nature Preserve. "We saw it as a good opportunity to more proactively give teens a place to go and constructive things to do," he said.
Below, right: The Brace family readies for a ride on the horse-drawn carriage Saturday. Pictured are (from left) Jacqeline, Kendrick, Chris, and Tonya Brace.