Mid-Winter Fest welcomes snow
Apple Valley's 27th annual event hosts activities for the whole family
Posted: 2/6/04
by Tad Johnson
Thisweek Newspapers
It's hard to imagine a grown man jumping for joy as this week's snowstorm dumped several inches of white powder on the ground.
No, he isn't a schoolteacher hoping for a day off. He's, Jim Zinck, one of the primary organizers of this weekend's Mid-Winter Fest in Apple Valley.
"I was one of the few people who was just thrilled to see it snow for 36 hours straight,î said the city's recreation coordinator Wednesday. "Now there is no reason to miss it.î
The fresh onslaught of snow will make nearly all of Mid-Winter Fest's activities Feb. 7 and 8 that much more exciting and fun for participants and spectators.
Where else will you be able to see people falling all over themselves to field a large white ball buried in snow than in Mid-Winter's softball tournament?
"It's almost more fun watching it,î Zinck said.
The appeal of Mid-Winter Fest is the ability to participate in a wide range of outdoor winter activities without having to battle the crowds of that other winter festival in St. Paul.
"You won't have a two-hour wait for a sled dog ride,î Zinck said. "Granted we don't have an ice castle, but you can see pictures of that in the paper.î
Mid-Winter Fest features more than 50 activities with everything from dog sled rides to snow tubing and a kickball tournament to an indoor demonstration of handball.
"Here you can take in a ton of stuff in a few hours,î Zinck said of the events, which center around the Community Center and neighboring Hayes Park on Saturday and Valleywood Golf Course on Sunday.
As an added bonus, he says this is the most snow that they've had in the past seven years and the forecast calls for reasonable 20 degree (above zero) temperatures sometime this weekend.
Other than hats, gloves and a warm coat, one of the Mid-Winter Fest "must-havesî is a Mid-Winter Fest button. Buttons are $2 during the celebration and are required for admission to most events. They can be purchased at the community center and Valleywood.
Apple Valley High School junior Roman Piskun designed this year's button. He earned $100 for the winning design. Piskun might also have another hand in the event as the high school's honors arts students will be fund-raising through a face-painting booth at the Community Center Saturday.
John Franks from Ice Carving Etc. in Blaine will show off another kind of artful skill at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Community Center. Zinck says this ice-sculpting demonstration only lasts about 10 minutes and is a "must-see.î
Another annual highlight is sled dog rides in the park. Silver Creek Sled Dogs from Duluth will hitch up the powerful pooches from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
Residents can rack up a $250 prize if they find the Mid-Winter Fest Medallion in one of the city's 20 parks this weekend. The search starts at 9 a.m. Saturday when the first clue is posted at the Community Center.
All clues will be posted at the Community Center at 9 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday until the medallion is found. Clues will not be given out over the phone.
Zinck reminded hunters that they won't have to destroy any city property to find the medallion. It will be placed in an easily accessible location.
While the festival aims to join people in the community for a fun time outdoors this winter, the event also wants to help a good cause. Participants can bring canned and boxed foods to the Community Center for donation to the Dakota County Food Shelf.
For more information about the event, call the Apple Valley Parks and Recreation Department at (952) 431-2300 or see its Web site at www.cityofapplevalley.org/.
Tad Johnson is at tad.johnson@ecm-inc.com
Schedule of Events
Throughout the Celebration
Medallion Hunt
Dakota County Food Shelf Donations
Saturday, February 7
Most events take place at the Apple Valley Community Center or Hayes Park
Men's Snow Softball Tournament, all day
Refreshments, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Video Arcade, 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Outdoor Open Ice Skating, 9 a.m.-9 p.m.
Coloring Contest, 10 a.m.-noon
Face-painting, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Will Hall & the Tadpole Parade, 10:45 a.m.
Door Prize Drawings,11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Sled Dog Team Rides,11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Ice-carving Demonstration, 11:30 a.m.
Wonderful World of Woody, 11:45 a.m.
BINGO Noon - 2 p.m.
Jigsaw Puzzle Contests, Noon-1 p.m.
Bob and Beachcombers, 1 p.m.
Scouting demonstrations, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Minnesota Zoomobile Animal Demonstrations, 2 and 3 p.m.
Youth Pie-eating Contest, 2:30 p.m.
Rachael Rocks, 2:45 p.m.
Team Handball Demonstration, 3 p.m.
Youth Ice Skating Races,3:45 p.m.
Teen Dance with DJ, 7-10 p.m.
Senior Center Open House,3-5 p.m.
*Senior Volunteer Awards Ceremony, 4 p.m.
*Senior Volunteer Reception,4-5 p.m.
*Musical Guest Rich Claussen, 4:15 p.m.
*A.V. Senior Center
Sunday, February 8
Most events take place at the Apple Valley Community Center or Valleywood Golf Course
Women's Indoor Volleyball Tournament
Co-Rec Indoor Volleyball Tournament
Co-Rec Kickball Tournament
Cross Country Skiing
Snow Tube Races
Snow Shoeing
Cribbage Tournament
Indoor Ice Skating Party
World's Largest Marshmallow Roast
Open Snow Tubing
Adult and Youth Table Tennis Tournament
Check out this week's newspaper for more about your community.
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