Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest
2010 Events
(This list will be updated regularly. Some events and times are subject to change, so check back often.)

Quick Links:
All Four Days | Friday | Saturday
Saturday & Sunday | Sunday | Monday
Complete Festival Schedule

All Four Days

Ice Sculptures
Downtown Traverse City
Beautiful examples of this exquisite art form created by skilled ice carvers will be exhibited throughout downtown Traverse City during the festival. Witness carving demonstrations by professionals from Ice Sculptures Limited and student carving teams from the TBA Career Tech Center. The following sponsors have donated an ice sculpture that will be located downtown.

1. Americana Gallery 2. Backcountry Outfitters 3. Bud Light 4. Days Inn & Suites 5. The Dish Café 6. Downtown Traverse City Association 7. Grand & Sugar Beach Resort Hotels 8. Holiday Inn West Bay 9. HUB International 10. Huntington Bank 11. ICE Organization 12. Ice Sculptures, Ltd. 13. James C. Smith 14. Kay’s 15. Krissie’s Created Gems 16. National Cherry Festival/Cherry Marketing Institute

17. Nolan’s Tobacconist 18. Northwestern Bank 19. One Up Web 20. Red Ginger 21. Robert Frost Fine Footwear 22. TBA ISD Career Tech Students 23. Traverse City Comedy Arts Festival 24. Visit Up North Vacation Rentals 25. Snow sculptures at TC Convention & Visitors Bureau: Downtown Traverse City Assoc. Cherry Fest/Cherry Marketing Institute Right Brain Brewery TC Convention & Visitors Bureau Additional Ice Sculptures located at the Grand Traverse Resort

Snow Sculpture Garden
Traverse City Visitor Center
Union Street at Grandview Parkway
Forget about that crude snowman! Five teams of talented snow carvers will fashion whimsical and imaginative sculptures out of pure, compacted winter snow. Their masterpieces will be on display outside the Traverse City Visitor Center, near all the other downtown festival activities.

Snow Sculpture Sponsors:
Downtown Traverse City Association
National Cherry Festival/Cherry Marketing Institute
Right Brain Brewery

Friday Events

Traverse City Winter Microbrew & Music Festival
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Friday 5-10 p.m.
A festival of craft beer, world music and winter fun under heated tents on the Clubhouse grounds at the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa. Bonfires and free sleigh rides will encircle a frozen winter pond surrounded by three tents showcasing dozens of craft breweries, local & national musicians and creative winter beer games. A $25 ticket includes a custom 7-ounce mini-stein and five pours (with additional tokens available for purchase), free sleigh rides, free shuttle service from downtown Traverse City to the Resort and back, and more. An after-party hosted by Short’s Brewery and the Michigan Brewers Guild will take place at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
More Details »

The Downhill Dash
Mt. Holiday Ski Area
Friday 7 p.m.
This event will be a top-to-bottom course with directional control gates set for safe speeds, competitors and public viewing. Competitors may ride mountain bikes, ski bikes, skis or snowboards. Awards will be given to the top three competitors in gender-based divisions. All participants must wear approved helmets. There is no entry fee for this event, but participants need a lift ticket ($10 discounts are available.) Registration Form »

Saturday-Only Events

Rail Jam at the Terrain Park
Mt. Holiday Ski Area
Saturday 10 a.m.
Awards will be given to the top three participants in each gender & age-based category. Age categories include 10 & under, 11&12, 13-15 and 16 & older. There is no entry fee for this event, but participants need a lift ticket ($10 discounts are available.) Registration Form »

Sweetheart of a Sale
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday, All Day
Remember, it’s still Valentine’s Day weekend. In honor of the holiday, participating downtown stores will be offering lots of special bargains on select merchandise. So enjoy the quaint streetscape of historic downtown Traverse City while you “shop ‘til you drop” during the Sweetheart of a Sale.

Monster Dog Pull
Sponsored by Northern Michigan Veterinary Hospital
Hosted by The Dog House: The Ultimate Dog Retreat
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Dogs of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to enter the First Annual Monster Dog Pull competition held in downtown Traverse City. Competing dogs will be divided into weight classes, don a harness, and (with great encouragement from their owners) successfully pull a weighted sled down a short snowy track. Whether you have a Welsh Corgi or a St. Bernard, bring that special pooch downtown -- join in the fun and compete for valuable prizes and the satisfaction of a job well done! (Contestants can pre-register or sign up at the registration table outside the big tent on Front Street from 10 to 10:30.) $5 entry fee donated to AC Paws. Registration Form (PDF) » Flyer (PDF) »

BAREFOOT Kid’s Biathlon Race
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday 11 am – 3 pm
Sponsored by the North American VASA Festival of Races
This is not quite the way they do it in the Olympics. Kids race on cross-country skis to a staged target area and shoot the target with paintball guns. (Advance registration at Resort Health Club or on Saturday beginning at 10am.) More information coming soon.

Snow Spa Tent
Morsel’s Plaza at the corner of Front & Cass
Saturday, 11am-4pm
Hosted by the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Three therapists will be offering COMPLIMENTARY chair massages and paraffin dips, with samples of Morsel’s treats. Look for the banner!

Juggler Tommy Tropic
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday noon-2 p.m.
A Traverse City favorite! Tommy Tropic juggles strange and exotic objects, rides his unicycle (weather permitting) and entertains family member of all ages with his repertoire of comedy and daring.

Horse & Carriage Rides
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday noon-3 p.m.
A well-mannered horse and driver from Abraham’s Carriage Service will be at the corner of Front & Cass giving downtown rides. $4 per person (children under 3 are free).

Third Annual Soup’r Bowl Soup Tasting
Sponsored by Charter Business & Charter Communications
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday noon-3 p.m.
The Soup’r Bowl is a friendly competition between 12 downtown Traverse City restaurants who’ll be serving up steaming hot soup samples inside a large heated tent at the corner of Cass and Front streets. Soup sampler tickets can be purchased at the tent entrance. You can buy eight samples for $5 or 12 samples for $8. Participants of all ages will enjoy the lively sounds of the Rhythm Kings. Come on in and “scoop some Soup!”

Ice Carving Demonstrations
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 12-3 p.m.
Watch carving demonstrations on Front Street by professional artisans from Ice Sculptures Limited and student carving teams from the TBA Career Tech Center.

Outdoor Snow Film Festival
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday 1-4 pm
Entertaining DVDs geared for the whole family in a heated tent. No admission fee.

Resort’s GRAND Chili Cookoff Contest
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday 1-4 pm
Who has the best chili? Stop in and taste a variety of chili prepared by Resort staff, then cast your vote. In a heated tent. Admission fee required.

Special Olympics Michigan Polar Plunge
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday, 2 pm
This is one of the funniest things you’ll ever see, as people dressed in costumes jump into a pond to raise funds for Special Olympics Michigan. Followed by awards ceremony. Participant pre-registration required. Open registration starts at 1 p.m. No fee for spectators. Fact Sheet (PDF) »

Frozen Pit Spit Contest
Sponsored by Cherry Republic
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 2-3 p.m.
It’s SPIT-tacular! Frozen cherry pits will be flying past the front doors of Cherry Republic Inc, the official sponsor of the 1st annual Frozen Pit Spit. This winter version of a National Cherry Festival favorite will “pit” young against old for the coveted title of Winter WonderFest Frozen Pit Spit Champion. Come on down and give it a whirl….it isn’t as easy as it looks! Just wait for a big wind and let loose! (Contestants can sign up inside the Cherry Republic store the day of the event.)

The Brain Freeze Ice Cream-Eating Contest
Sponsored by Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 3-4 p.m.
So you think you are an ice cream eating champ? Prove it to the world at the First Annual Brain Freeze, sponsored by Moomer’s Homemade Ice Cream. The contest begins at 3pm and a sizeable crowd will be on hand to watch contestants in children’s, teen and adult divisions devour America’s favorite ice cream as fast as they can. But it’s a timed event, so beware the dreaded “Brain Freeze!” (Spaces are limited. Contestants can pre-register or sign up at the registration table outside the big tent on Front Street the day of the event.) Registration Form (PDF) »

Cardboard Bobsled-a-Rama on the Snow Shoot
Mt. Holiday Ski Area
Saturday 3:30 p.m.
Sleds must be made using just cardboard, tape and paint. Awards will be given for best design and fastest down the course. There are two divisions: Community & Corporate. No entry fee is required for the Community division. Corporate division participants will be charged $50 per team, with proceeds benefitting Special Olympics & Michael’s Place. Corporate division winners will receive two Mt. Holiday Gold Passes. ($1,000 value.)
Registraion Form (PDF) »

2010 Cherry Capital Winter WonderFest Frozen Bed Race
Hosted by the Grand Traverse Hotel/Motel Association
Sponsored by Horse Shows By the Bay & Red Hare Tack and Togs
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 4-5 p.m.
An exciting and hilarious competition, as teams of up to five bed-racers representing business, churches, families and clubs careen down Front Street for the coveted Frozen Bed Race trophy. Registration Deadline: Feb. 9 Register with Emily Henson at , 231-421-2126 (Fax: 231-947-2652) or by email at ehenson@tcwestbay.com. Registration Form (PDF)»

Beer/Food Tent
Sponsored by Bud Light
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 5-9 p.m.
Refresh yourself with some liquid enjoyment and a selection of tasty foods from local restaurants. Featuring live blues and classic rock from The Corvairs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Laser Light Show
Sponsored by Fox Grand Traverse
Downtown Traverse City
Saturday 6-9 p.m.
Rick Kopernak of Laser Image Productions brings a musical display of dazzling multicolored lasers to downtown Traverse City. Projected on a screen, on clouds of machine-made fog and on any snow flurries that might be coming out of the sky, this series of four 20-minute laser shows — each one individually scored and choreographed — will transform downtown Traverse City into a Winter Tomorrowland.

Saturday-Sunday Events

2010 First Annual Winter WonderFest Snow Ball Softball Tournament
Sponsored by 106 KHQ and Bud Light
Grand Traverse County Civic Center
1213 West Civic Center Drive, Traverse City, MI 49686
Saturday/ Sunday
The Grand Traverse County Civic Center will play host to the two-day midwinter Snowball Softball Tournament Saturday and Sunday. As many as 20 teams from across the state of Michigan will compete on four neighboring diamonds in this ASA-sanctioned tournament, which will feature a beer/entertainment tent and other concessions. Format will be a double game elimination, 16” ball, and a Matt plate. Deadline for Team Registrations is Feb. 1. More info »

“Winter Fun Zone”
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Enjoy all the fun of winter snow sports near the Clubhouse. Ice skating, bonfires, x-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow climb. Equipment rentals for adults and children available for a fee at Adventure North Outfitters in the Resort’s Gallery of Shops.

Outdoor Winter Carnival Rides
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 10 am- 5 pm
Carnival rides for the kiddies just like in summertime - but dress warm - it’s winter! No fee.

Kid’s Petting Zoo
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
All the fun of a friendly petting zoo with traditional farm animals, and maybe a surprise animal too. No fee.

Ice Sculpture Park
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
You’ll be amazed at these 3-D ice sculptures carved by experts. It’s real art! No fee for spectators.

Winter Shopping Tour at Gallery of Shops
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 10 am – 5 pm
Take advantage of Winter WonderFest specials on retail merchandise in the Resort’s 10-store Gallery of Shops. (Indoor Event)

Dog Sled Demonstrations
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 10 am, Noon
These canines are specially bred to pull sleds and they love to do it. These are the same type of dogs that race in the famous Iditarod in Alaska. No fee for spectators.

Ice Sculpture Demonstration
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 11 am, 3 pm
Watch how these artists create sculptures using specialized tools and tricks of the trade. It is art! No fee for spectators.

Pony Rides
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 11 am – 1 pm, 3-5 pm
Mom & dad will love the smiles on children’s faces when the kids ride on a pony. Bring your camera - great photo op.

Snowmobile Rides
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 11 am – 5 pm
If you’ve never ridden on a snowmobile, here’s your chance, for young and old alike. It’s a short loop around the Resort grounds with a designated professional driver. No fee to ride.

Kid’s Snowshoe Race
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 11:30 am, 2 pm, 3:30 pm
Ready, set, go! It’s a race to the finish line just a snowball throw away. Mom & dad will love the smiles. Did someone say photo op? Register on-site just before the race. No fee.

Family Comedy Juggling Show (30-min)
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 11:30 am, 2 pm
You’ll laugh and be amazed at the skill and tricks of this performer. No fee.

Winter Spa Tour
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday noon-4 pm
Featuring FREE paraffin dip & hand massage. Visit Spa Grand Traverse and see what a difference spa services can make for your wellness and well being. Talk with our staff and ask questions about our services. Enjoy the complimentary Paraffin Dip. No admission fee.

Kid’s Frozen Fish Toss
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday, Sunday noon, 2:30 pm, 4 pm
No, it’s not a real fish - it’s a plush toy fish soaked in water and frozen. No fee.

Strolling Balloon Twisting
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 1-2 pm, 4-5 pm
Blow ‘em up, tie ‘em off, and twist ‘em all around. Next thing you know, you’ve got a fancy hat, or a puppy dog, or maybe a giraffe… No fee.

Dog Sled Rides
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 1- 5 pm
These canines are specially bred to pull sleds and they love to do it. These are the same type of dogs that race in the famous Iditarod in Alaska. No fee to ride.

Sleigh Rides
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 1-5 pm
Take a ride on a real horse-drawn sleigh over the Resort grounds. You’ll enjoy the jingle of the bells the horses wear on their harness. No fee.

Cherry Pie Eating Contest
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Saturday-Sunday 3 pm
Mom & dad, bring your camera! Kids love this contest that provides quite a photo op. No fee.

Sunday-Only Events

Frosty 5K Foot Race
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Sunday, 9 a.m.
5 kilometers of healthy fun in the winter weather on Resort roads. Participant pre-registration and fee required. Advance registration at the Resort Health Club or day of at 8 am. No fee for spectators. Registraion Form (PDF) »

“Big Air” Championships in the Terrain Park & on The Wall
Mt. Holiday Ski Area
Sunday, 1 p.m.
Awards will be given to the top three participants in each gender & age-based category. Age categories include 10 & under, 11&12, 13-15 and 16 & older. There is no entry fee for this event, but participants need a lift ticket ($10 discounts are available). Registraion Form (PDF) »

TC Wine & Art Festival - Winter Celebration
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Sunday, 3-8 pm
Enjoy local wines, art by northern Michigan artists, and delicious desserts. 21 yrs+; tickets required. More info »

Outdoor Fireworks Show
Grand Traverse Resort & Spa
Sunday 7 pm
If you think fireworks during the summer are something, wait until you see fireworks in the snow. Amazing… fire in ice. Parking available at Resort. No fee for spectators. Food and drinks will be available for purchase before and during the fireworks at Aerie Restaurant & Lounge (16th Floor of Tower) and at The Grille (inside The Clubhouse), or view from inside the Wine & Art Festival Tent.

Monday-Only Events

Presidential Look-Alike Parade & Luncheon
Mt. Holiday Ski Area
Sunday 11 a.m.
Dress like your favorite president and join us for a parade loop below the Lodge, followed by an All-American Presidential Luncheon for only $5. (Prizes will be awarded for the best presidential look-alikes.)