Most of the 2017 Gun Lake Winterfest events will be held Saturday, Feb. 18, but two will take place the Thursday and Friday before.
A special debate featuring candidates for Gun Lake Mayor will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday the 16th at the Yankee Springs Golf Course, 12300 Bowens Mills Road. The candidates are Elizabeth Roscoe and Jack Kopenski. The winner of the race will be announced at 8 p.m. Friday.
The following two days, an ice fishing tournament will be held the Yankee Springs State Park from daybreak to 3 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 17 and 18, “at the lake of your choice.” Anglers may register at A Sportsman’s Attic, 2717 S Patterson.
Age groups in the competition will be youth 15 and under and adults 16 and over. Participation fee is $5 per category.
The winner of ice fishing tournament will be announced Saturday afternoon.
Also Friday there will be an archery tournament at A Sportsman’s Attic, with entry fee $10 and prizes awarded to first and second places.
A euchre tournament is planned for Friday evening at the Yankee Springs Golf Course, with an entry fee of $10. Registration begins at 6:30 p.m. and card games begin at 7:15 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third places.
Events scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 18:
• 5k Gun Lake Fun Run, Long Lake Outdoor Center, 10370 Gun Lake Road. 7a.m. registration, race begins at 8 a.m.
• Firemen’s Pancake Breakfast — 8 to 11 a.m. at Gun Lake Community Church, 12200 W M-179.
• The Gun Lake Band of Pottawatomi Indians of Michigan will be open the festivities at 10 a.m.
• Little Miss Gun Lake contest, Long Lake Outdoor Center, for 4- to 7-year-olds. Contestants need to arrive by 10:30 a.m. – Pageant begins at 11 a.m. Little Miss Gun Lake and her court will be announced and crow
ned on stage at Yankee Springs State Park shortly after completion of the pageant on Stage at Yankee Springs State Park
The Trolley will provide shuttling between the parking area to the stage and event area
• Ice permitting, there will be an ice skating rink on the shore of the Lake.
• Mary’s Country Critters Mobile Petting Zoo will be on site throughout the day.
• Food vendor tents will open at 10 a.m. Michigan Patriots semi-pro football team members will be there helping out. Registration tent opens at 9 a.m.
• The Chili Cook Off will start at noon. There will be two facilities where you may cook your chili to participate.
• Gun Lake Mayor’s opening speech will be given Saturday morning just after the Gun Lake Tribe’s presentation.
• Prize awarding ceremony for the winner of the Art Logo contest.
• The Beer Tasting Tent will open at 11 a.m. and there will be an 0.5k “beer run” competition. Entry fee $10. First 20 to the finish line will win a T-shirt and a beer ticket. Registration begins at 10 a.m. Cost for beer tasting will be $15 for 10 samples, or $20 for 15 samples. There will be designated drivers. (Bring a non perishable food item for one beer ticket).
• Gun Lake Winterfest Putt for Dough Disc Golf Putting contest will take place in the Beer Tent, beginning at 11:30 a.m.
• Kalamazoo Husky Club dog sled races at noon for suggested $5 donation throughout the day.
• Gun Lake Idol Finals — Continuing on stage throughout the day, taking the field from 18 finalists down to first place with a $500 purse, second place for $250 and third place for $100.
• The jail will open at 10 a.m. Participants can have “friends” go to jail for $2 and a cost of $7 to have them freed, but the Gun Lake Mayor will sell
• Chicken Drop, beginning at noon, throughout the day. Ticket price $1 per ticket, or six tickets for $5 or bring a non-perishable food item for one ticket.
• The perennial popular Polar Bear Dip will be at 4 p.m. Registration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. or pre-register at Winterfest website. Entry fee $25–$30.
• The Gun Lake Winterfest Dance Party will get under way at 8 p.m. at Vann’s Valley Event Center, 1069 126th Ave, Shelbyville.
• DJ Music will be offered from 8 p.m. to midnight.