Vintage and antique snowmobiles will be added to this year’s winter festival at St. Ignace, which will span about 10 days and include pond hockey and the World Ice and Snow Sailing Association (WISSA) world championship.

“We’re trying to fill these 10 days up and have them packed solid,” Mark Sposito, Special Events Committee chairman, said at the committee meeting Thursday, December 1.

So far, 47 pond hockey teams have registered for the annual tournament. Last year at this time, 20 had registered. More than 100 people have registered for the February 16 reception where the public can meet with retired Red Wings players at the Mackinac Grille.

The committee discussed having snowmobile drag races, but decided for this year to have a snowmobile display on the ice or near the bay from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, February 19, and pursue drag races in future years. Charlie Vallier from the Top of the Lake Snowmobile Museum in Naubinway attended the committee meeting. His group hosts an annual snowmobile show in Naubinway, and it is planned that snowmobile collectors already in the area for that established show will be able to participate in the St. Ignace event.

Adult pond hockey runs Friday, February 17, through Sunday, February 19; the WISSA world championship will be Monday, February 20, through Friday, February 24; youth pond hockey will be Saturday, February 25, and Sunday, February

26. While WISSA’s world championship, hosted over the years in a variety of European locations, changes location every year, the association has now committed to having its North American championship in St. Ignace every year. WISSA athletes compete on skates, skis, or snowboards, powering themselves forward with the wind in their wings, kites, or sails.

Extra days have been added into the WISSA schedule in case wind conditions are such that athletes can’t perform. Mr. Sposito said he had been asked to have activities available for the athletes on those days. He said he had considered ice golf and a trip to Tahquamenon Falls. A trip to the Naubinway snowmobile museum could be added, he said.

Snowmobile displays and, in the future, drag races could expand the Sunday at the end of pond hockey into a full day of events, he said.

“They’re only going to watch so much hockey,” said Scott Winkelman, president of the St. Ignace Youth Hockey Association.

Awards will be given for the best snowmobiles, likely People’s Choice, Mayor’s Choice, and Red Wings’ Choice.

Mr. Sposito had invited Mark Wilk, St. Ignace police chief, to the meeting to discuss security concerns. Some parents had been disruptive at past youth pond hockey events, and he wanted an officer in uniform to have a presence among the spectators.

“That’s not really the atmosphere we’re trying to create,” Mr. Sposito said of disruptive parents.

Mr. Wilk said the committee could hire police officers and reimburse the city for the time – the cost would be about $30 an hour – or the city may be able to adjust its schedule for the police to have the event covered.

Mr. Wilk asked whether a language barrier would be a problem with international athletes coming to participate in WISSA or whether the athletes need emergency medical services on standby. Mr. Sposito said he didn’t think so, but he would check.

During pond hockey, Mr. Sposito said, free shuttles will be available from 5 p.m. Thursday through 3 a.m. Sunday. The taxi service will also serve as dispatch for shuttle services.