Michigan's Upper Peninsula Travel Blog

Almost to the finish line in Munising

Wow, we’re already into the last week of February! This past weekend’s Munising Winterfest was a big success and we had excellent weather the entire weekend. The Midnight Run dog sled race finished up Saturday morning and mushers said the course was excellent. The overnight temperature was near single digits so this made the snow fast and the dogs love to run in the cold temps. We’re currently going through the 300 pictures we took during the weekend and we’ll be posting them very soon.

This weekend there’s a few more events happening in the area and the weather is looking nice again. On Saturday & Sunday is the U.S.C.C. Munising 300 snowmobile race held at the Cherrywood Lodge in Wetmore. (About 3 miles east of Munising on M-28.) This cross-country race will have 5 races on Saturday and 6 races on Sunday. Check out their snowmobile race poster for race times. The racers are divided into different classes depending on their level of experience and the type of snowmobile they are riding. If you’re into racing and snowmobiles, this is definitely for you.

Also on Saturday, Feb. 27th is the 17th annual Trenary Outhouse Classic! This fun event draws a huge crowd to watch outhouse racers push their creations down Main Street. The festivities begin at noon and the outhouse racing starts at 2:00p.m. Trophies, cash and prizes are awarded for several categories including the fastest times and appearance. If you’d like to enter an outhouse, there’s still time! The competition is open to everyone (kids thru adults) and you can find building requirements on their website. So make sure to bring your camera or camcorder, for this truly unique U.P. event!

As for the weather in Munising, we’ve had great weather for the last several days. Last night the lake-effect snow kicked-in and dumped 6+ inches of new snow in the area. The kids are happy because the schools are closed today, not sure about the parents. So we hope to see you here this weekend for some excellent U.P. fun. Next week I’ll tell you about the snowmobile ice drags happening on Munising Bay on Saturday, March 6th. Have a great weekend!

The Hillside Party Store has officially opened under new ownership! The Hillside is located on M-28 west and is near the city boat launch. The store features fuel, grocery items, propane fill-up and a fine selection of liquor and beer. They are conveniently located on a snowmobile/ATV trail so you can easily fill your machine. Visit their Explore Munising listing to learn more about what they have to offer. If you get chance, stop by there today as they’re celebrating their grand opening!

Here’s some photos from their ribbon cutting ceremony held earlier today:

Ribbon cutting ceremony

Officially open for business!

Stop by for their grand opening

Located on M-28 just west of downtown & on a snowmobile/ATV trail

A fine select of adult beverages

It’s definitely been wintry around here and it’s perfect timing as Munising’s Winterfest kicks off today. Over the last few days, we’ve received 10-12″ of new snow. This is good news for the upcoming dog sled races and Winterfest happening through weekend. The weekend forecast also looks good and we hope you can make it for a great family weekend.

The main feature of Winterfest is the finish of the Midnight Run dog sled race. This 89-mile, 8-dog race begins on Friday evening in Gwinn, MI and finishes Saturday morning (approx. 7am-2pm) in downtown Munising. It’s pretty exciting to see the dogs and mushers making their final charge to the finish line. Come out and cheer them on! Beside this race, there’s also the U.P. 200 dog sled race happening at the same time. This 12-dog race begins in Marquette, MI, on Friday night, and travels through the Munising area up to Grand Marais, MI. From there, they turn around, travel back to Marquette and finish on Sunday. Along the way, there are designated checkpoints and rest areas for the racers. Spectators can also visit those spots to see the race teams taking a break from the action. A dog sled race is a must-see event!

Last year's pet parade

Besides the dog sled race, Winterfest features winter games, food, music and other events throughout the entire weekend. Check out the Winterfest page to view a schedule of all the events. A new event to this year’s Winterfest is the Cardboard Classic Sled Race at Bayshore Park on Friday night. This free event is a competition to build your own cardboard sled and race it down a hill. During the sled race, there will be food, beverages and music in the Bayshore Park Pavilion. The fun begins at 5pm and pre-registration to compete is requested. Even if you don’t want race, this should be a pretty fun event to watch!

Throughout Saturday and Sunday there’s a whole list of activities planned. From snow games to snowshoeing and dog sled rides, everyone will be having a great time. Other events include a waterfall/ice hikes by U.P. Overland, a snowshoe demo/hike by Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore and an evening campfire gathering put on by the Boy Scouts. The pet parade, kiddie mutt races and the human dog sled races are also fun events to participate in or just watch from the sideline.

2009's human dog sled race

On Saturday night, the Snowball Dance will take place at the Munising Moose Lodge from 8pm-midnight. The popular band Evergreen Seven will jam the night away and get you on the dance floor. There will be food and beverages available.

To get the complete details on the events, including an event map, visit www.munisingwinterfest.com!

In the last few days the lake-effect snow has finally come back. The larger amounts fell west of Munising but we did receive some here to help freshen things up. The snowmobile trails are being reported as in good shape and the cross-country ski trails, at Valley Spur, are reported to be excellent. Last weekend, the ice climbing festival had a huge crowd and the weather cooperated, too. It looked like everyone had a great time. We’ll be uploading more pictures soon.

Ice climbers at last weekend's Ice Fest

As we continue through February, the events in and around Munising continue, too! This Saturday is the 26th annual Moose Lodge Fishing Derby that takes place at beautiful Au Train Lake. The contest runs from 7a.m. to 3 p.m. and the entry fee is only $10. Kids 12 and under are FREE with a registered adult. You can register at the Moose Lodge or the Boat House on the lake. Following the derby, there will be dinner served at the Moose Lodge, in Munising, from 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Then at 6:00 p.m., prizes will be awarded for a variety of fish categories. The best part… it’s the state of Michigan’s free fishing weekend! This means you don’t need a fishing license for the derby, but you do still need to follow laws and regulations. The weather forecast is also looking nice for Saturday with a high temperature of 27 degrees.

If fishing isn’t your thing then maybe head to Grand Marais for their annual Cabin Fever Saturday (Feb. 13th). Bring the family there for fun and food as they celebrate winter with snowmobile and snowshoe poker runs, a chili cookoff, a cardboard sled competition, a snowman building contest, and more!

Then on Sunday (Feb. 14th), get a tasty bowl of chili at the annual Chili Fest Benefit for the Alger County Animal Shelter. The benefit will be held at the American Legion, in Munising, from noon-4 p.m. Come out and support the animals at the shelter.

So as you can see, there’s a lot happening this weekend! We’ve also updated our Munising Winterfest page with a more complete schedule of events. In closing, here’s a neat clip from the early 60′s of the North American Snowmobile Championship held in Munising. Recognize anyone?

This weekend’s ice climbing festival is one of the most unique events for the Upper Peninsula and the Midwest. The 27th annual Michigan Ice Fest is happening this Friday thru Sunday (February 5-7th) and it’s sure to be a great time! From beginners to experts, everyone is invited to come to Munising and experience climbing the beautiful ice formations that Mother Nature develops. The weekend will include ice climbing product demonstrations, clinics, instructional courses, social gatherings and inspiring slideshows from world-class climbers. For those that don’t have equipment, no problem! There will be equipment rentals available for a nominal fee. As always, Sydney’s Restaurant will be the official headquarters for the event. Registration, booths and the nighttime events will be held there. Visit the Down Wind Sports’ Ice Fest page for more information and downloadable program.

More info: Read about ice climbing in the Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

Detroit Free Press video from MI Ice Fest 2009

The weekend forecast looks great and winter came back just in time! Looking for lodging? Visit our Munising MI Lodging section for some great stays.

MI Ice Fest Schedule of Events

Friday, Feb. 5th

• 10:00am – Rentals available of Sydney’s
• 6:00pm – Climbing social sponsored by Scarpa
• 7:30pm – Slideshow: Ben Clark

Saturday, Feb. 6th

• 8:00am – Courses pick up gear
• 9:00am – Demo equipment check out
• 9:00am – Courses meet upstairs at Sydney’s
• 10:00am – Demo at the Curtains
• 4-7:00pm – Demo equipment check-in
• 7:00pm – Climbing Social sponsored by La Sportiva
• 7:00pm – Slideshow: Raphael Slawinski
• 8:00pm – Slideshow: Barry Blanchard

Sunday, Feb. 7th

• 8:00am – Courses pick up gear
• 9:00am – Demo equipment check out
• 9:00am – Courses meet upstairs at Sydney’s
• 10:00am – Demos at the Curtains
• 2-4:00pm – Demo equipment check-in