After a very green Christmas in Northern Michigan, we’re all grateful for the massive amount of snow that has rejuvenated the outdoor winter activity sector! Skis, snowboards, snowshoes, ice skates, and sleds are in full glory – not to mention the kids reveling in their recent snow days. Winter is here at last, and the mountains of snow will be sticking around for our annual Winter Wonderland Weekend next month!
Taking place from Friday, February 16 through Monday, February 19 (Presidents’ Weekend), this annual Downtown event is bringing back its tried and true components, which include delightful ice sculptures dotting the sidewalks and ice-carving demos in Pennsylvania Park – plus another fun snow sculpture (last year’s bear was pretty awesome, right?) – shopping galore, and special meals at restaurants throughout our welcoming Social District.
But new for 2024 are some indoor activities you should check out when you need a little warm-up from all the outdoor fun. First up, on Saturday, Crooked Tree Arts Center is hosting a winter-themed Open Studio art opportunity for the entire family from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hosted in the lower-level Visual Arts Room, Open Studio will be led by an instructor who’ll guide your time of creative expression.
Then, if you’re looking for more arts engagement, pop across the street and venture into the Petoskey District Library for a “Glitter Party” from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., which will definitely add some sparkle to your day. It’ll be a great family-friendly activity and an opportunity to explore the featured books and the newly designed Tween Space.
Children’s Librarian Megan Goedge, who is facilitating the sparkly craft time, is looking forward to hosting families and children: “Glitter is a divisive decoration. It gets stuck everywhere! It can never be cleaned up! But it’s also so sparkly and glitzy and brings joy.”
The ‘Glitter Party’ will offer many craft materials, like glue, sticky paper, snowflakes, and washi tape. Pick your colors and supplies at the glitter bar and go wild creating – leave the fun, AKA mess, to the library! “In a month that can be pretty dreary and cold, it’s exciting to shake some sparkles on it all,” added Goedge.
And talking about adding some excitement, once the sun sets and night takes hold, if you’re not an evening skier, consider returning to Crooked Tree Arts Center for a Blissfest Music Organization concert at 7:30 p.m. Appropriate for all ages, The Pairs – a trio of quirky singer-songwriters – will heat up the intimate theater space with their harmonies that capture life’s hope, hilarity, and hardship. Visit crookedtree.org or blissfest.org for more information and tickets.
Since this community-centric weekend is still a couple of weeks off, you have time to book a room at our historic downtown hotel – The Perry. A great deal is available for weekend stays right now, complete with breakfast vouchers, Stafford’s Dining Dollars, and a goodie bag; plus, you’re in the heart of Downtown, within walking distance of all the fun.
The Winter Wonderland Weekend is four days of indoor and outdoor family-friendly fun in our beautiful community that thrives on embracing each season to its fullest. So, whether you’re looking to stay warm with a hot drink while watching the snow fall or if you’re ready to face weather that’ll make your cheeks turn rosy red, Downtown Petoskey has got you covered.
