Celebrate Winterfest!

When Leola Rodd started the Winterfest celebration in Carlton close to 25 years ago, she said it was a way to bring community members together and to give people something to do.

The former Community Ed director chuckled as she recalled kids playing volleyball and softball games in half a foot of slushy snow.

The games may have changed over the past 25 years, but Saturday’s Winterfest still offers many options for community members and others to enjoy an incredibly wide variety of activities together.

Here’s what’s happening on Saturday, Feb. 9:

From noon until 4 p.m. at the Four Seasons Sports Complex enjoy the Mini Hook and Slice on the outdoor ice rink. Bring your own “club” — shovel, broom, bat, hockey stick, tennis racket, anything goes — and play unlimited rounds of 10 holes for $5. Concessions will be provided by the Carlton Hockey Program, music by WKLK and there will be an indoor open family skate. Starting at 1 p.m., the Zoomobile arrives, along with face painting, kids’ activities, games and free books until 3 p.m.

Chili cook-off registration begins at 1 p.m., with judging at 1:30 p.m., also in the sports complex. This is the 23rd annual chili cook-off, sponsored by the Carlton Area Lions Club, along with Jim ‘n Jo’s Katering and The Streetcar. There is no entry fee and free registration starts right before the cook-off. Have questions or want to judge? Call Joel at 218-451-0715.

During the evening hours from 6 to 9 p.m., Jay Cooke State Park invites everyone to snowshoe, hike or ski on the trails lit by luminaries. For more information, contact the park at 218-673-7005. The immensely popular Carlton Fire Department Bingo begins at 7 p.m. at Carlton High School — get there early to get a seat! Play Bingo all night for as low as $6. All money raised goes toward helping to equip the fire department and volunteers.