Annual festival cancelled due to unfavorable conditions

KALKASKA – For the second year in a row, Kalkaska’s premier seasonal celebration – Winterfest – was cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions.

This year’s event was originally scheduled for Jan. 20 and 21, but after a significant thaw it was postponed to the weekend of Feb. 17 and 18. The February dates also encountered a serious thaw that led to unsuitable icy conditions for the dog races.

“It’s such a disappointment; Mother Nature has not been kind to us the past two years,” said Winterfest organizer Kristi Collins.

The Kalkaska Winterfest, which has been an annual event for over half a century, is host to the largest sprint sled dog race in the continental United States. According to Collins, over 60 teams were expected to congregate in Kalkaska for the weekend event.

“It affects the local economy, too, because there would have been a lot more people in town that weekend. It’s not a decision we make lightly when we cancel,” she explained.

Collins added that the hotels are impacted, as well as organizers behind additional events such as the craft show and the Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast.

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