The annual Gun Lake Winterfest celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Yankee Springs State Park, but competition has already begun for the Gun Lake Idol contest at four different area locations.

The preliminary rounds are taking place in at Rhino’s, Reds, Family Tavern and Hilliards Corner Lounge. The finals will be held throughout the day on Saturday Feb. 17.

Another event starting before Feb. 17 is the euchre card-playing tournament at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15 at the Wayland VFW post on South Main Street.

The annual fishing tournament on Gun Lake is planned for Friday, Feb. 16. Sportsmans Attic is sponsoring the contest.

Kicking off the day Saturday, Feb. 17, will be the firemen’s breakfast, with the Yankee Springs FD as host.

The Winterfest five-kilometer (5K) run will start at the Long Lake Outdoor Center later in the morning, but it shouldn’t be confused with the “.05 Beer Run,” which is geared to those slightly less serious about the sport.

A Little Miss Gun Lake contest will be held for little girls ages 5 to 8.

Three tents will be provided, one for vendors, one for beer tasting and our food vendors and one for the chili cookoff and disc golf putting challenge.

Of course, the ever-popular Polar Bear Dip in Gun Lew will return, with sponsorship by Amerigas.

Also part of the festival will be a 50/50 raffle sponsored by the VFW of Wayland, a magician, as well as Chris Bromley’s horse and wagon rides.

(Winterfest logo designed by Anna Fifelski)