Most of the activities for the annual Gun Lake Winterfest celebration will take place through hout the day Saturday, Feb. 15, but a couple of events are planned for Wednesday, Feb. 12, and Thursday, Feb. 13.
The semifinal round of Gun Lake Idol competition, with $2,000 in prizes, will take place at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, at Stage 131. A euchre tournament is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday at the Wayland VFW post on South Main Street.
The full slate of activities on Saturday, Feb. 15, is as follows:
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- 7 to 11 a.m. — Fireman’s Breakfast, Yankee Springs Fire Department, 1425 S Payne Lake Road. Wayland/Baskets will be available to view and purchase tickets, as well as 50/50 tickets.
- 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. — Birdie Blizzard registration and check-in.
- 10 a.m. — Birdie Blizzard first tee off begins.
- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Tents open at Yankee Springs State Park, 2104 S Briggs Road.
- 10 a.m. — Opening Ceremony by Match-e-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, Gun Lake Tribe. Raising of the Flag by The Forgotten Eagles immediately following.
- 10:40 a.m. — Gun Lake Idol competition begins.
- 10:50 a.m. — 05 K Race to open Brew Tent at 11.
- 11:40 a.m. — Presentation of Logo contest winner Olivia Martinez.
- 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. — Bean bag tournament check-in.
- 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — Polar Dip registration starts.
- 11 a.m. to 3 pm — Kids crafts and games.
- 12 noon — Alan Kazam performs on stage.
- Noon to 4 p.m. — Wagon rides.
- Noon to 4 pm — Mary’s Country Critters and Petting Zoo.
- 1 p.m. — Bean Bag tournaments start.
- 2:45 p.m. — Last Birdie Blizzard tee off.
- 4 p.m. — Polar Dip begins.
- 5 p.m — 50/50 raffle drawing.
- 5:15 — Basket raffle drawing.
- 6 p.m. — Lowering of the Flag.
Chicken Drop, raffle tickets and basket tickets available all day.
The festival’s web site declares: “Gun Lake Winterfest is a community event. We bring the community together to enjoy a day of fun and recreation. We strive to make this event memorable for everyone who attends. We have asked for donations and sponsorships to help fund this event. “We are a non profit and our goal is to give to local charities and organizations. Every year we work with the Yankee Springs and Orangeville fire departments and our local VFW to give them a gift of money! We also choose a local charity or two who will benefit from the profits that we make the day of the event.
“This year we have chosen Sylvia’s Place, a woman’s shelter in Allegan as our main charity. Paws With A Cause will benefit from our Polar Dip this year. We will have a donation jar for money or bring an item that is on the Wish List, you can go to our website at gunlakewinterfest.com to learn more…”
