We’re a month out from the shortest day of the year, and that is a reason to celebrate. The extra minutes of sunshine are noticeable now. While the snow is beautiful, and the snowshoeing and snowmobiling conditions have been fantastic, surviving the days of severe cold and biting windchills earns us the title of “Hearty Minnesotans.” If you’re like me this is the time of year when occasionally I feel a little bit like a prisoner, marking off the days of the calendar longing for spring.
There is no reason to suffer from cabin fever though, as there are many activities in which to participate. All of the usuals are on deck: poker, bingo, trivia, several meat raffles, and good eats. In addition to that is the CROSSLAKE WINTERFEST, which will be held the first weekend in February (2/3-2/5). There are so many spectacular events planned, you must make a point of joining in the fun. Here are some of the activities you may want to consider:
Thursday, February 3rd: The first of 3 clues to find the lost medallion will be dropped at 9am. The prize for finding it is valued at over $2,000. Moonlite Bay will host trivia Thursday evening.
Friday, February 4th: Clue number two will be available after 9am. A newly opened store (Squirrelly Mama) will host a sip and shop from 12-5 in the town square. From 7-9pm, the Crosslake Community Center will host pond skating, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, sledding and a bonfire. They will also have smores and hot chocolate, and chili. Fireworks are planned for 9pm. There will be live music at Manhattan’s and The Bourbon Room in the evening.
As if Friday’s activities aren’t enough: buckle up for Saturday! Crosslake firefighters will provide a pancake breakfast from 8-11. It’s a great way to support our first responders. A craft and vender fair are scheduled during the day at The Gathering. There will be radar runs, helicopter rides, bonfires, kids’ activities, open houses, bingo, Italian Olympics, and more. New this year is kite flying at the town square from 2-4pm. You can hear live music at either 14 Lakes Brewery, Manhattan’s, the Bourbon Room, the Cedar Chest, or Maucieri’s. A DJ will spin tunes at The Wharf and at Moonlite Bay. At the center of it all is the SOUPFEST. Starting at noon and ending at 3pm, you are encouraged to try various soups throughout town and vote for your favorite. Who will win the golden ladle this year, I wonder?
I was thinking the other day on my long commute home from work on the icy roads how much I love living here. While sometimes I wish winter would go by as fast as Omicron is spreading, the snowy landscape is stunning. I drive on single lane roads lined with snow-flocked pine trees with no traffic; friendly folks wave at me. To think I used to regularly battle for my spot on an 8-lane freeway as a young person in California is crazy. I got lucky and met a Minnesota native who brought me here and I have loved it every, single day, for almost 30 years. See you at the Winterfest!
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