Get outdoors with Winter Fest this weekend
Thursday, January 22, 2015
Elizabeth Dohms, Leader Telegram staff
The excuse that winter discourages outdoor activities is officially moot, if the Northwest Wisconsin Winter Fest and Games to occur on Lake Altoona is any indication.
The event takes place Friday through Sunday, bringing together everyone from cribbage champs to bike racers to softball players.
People can get toasty with a Christmas tree bonfire at 6 p.m. Friday, then heat up with music that starts at 4:30 p.m., before participating in disc golf after cheering for their favorite team at the Winter Chiller Softball Tournament.
Throughout the weekend the lake will be bustling with other activities such as ice racing, broomball, fat tire bike racing and a fun run.
Another main attraction is the Altoona Winter Classic Ice Fishing Contest, a fundraiser for United Cerebral Palsy, which takes place Saturday and Sunday.
The Polar Peggers Chippewa Valley Cribbage Club tournament begins Saturday. Background noise will be provided by the Auto Ice and ATV/Motorcycle races and later by live bands.
All events are free with the exception of the ice races. Cost for those events is $5. Children younger than 12 get in free. Pit passes are $10 per day or $25 for the weekend passes into the races and pits.
Winter Fest is modeled after an event in northern Iowa, said organizer Brian Sandy, marketing and promotional manager for the Eau Claire Press Co., which publishes the Leader-Telegram.
"It's a great event for winter when generally people don't have a lot to do." Sandy said.
Sandy said he expects 6,000 people to attend Winter Fest.
Shuttle busing will be available from various locations, including Mega Foods East and the UW-Eau Claire parking lot on First Avenue.
Raffle tickets for donated prizes like a snowmobile or ATV from Sport Motors Ski Doo/Can-Am, a $1,000 gas card to Kwik Trip and two Country Jam USA VIP passes are available at 44 Kwik Trip locations.
Dohms can be reached at 715-833-9206, 800-236-7077 or elizabeth.dohms@ecpc.com.
Winter Fest event details >> here.
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