By Genine Hopkins
Frostbite Winter Festival 2025 is now on the books AND had snow this year, with more piling on as the festivities began to wrap up, with nearly six inches falling from the afternoon on Saturday, February 9, through the wee hours of Sunday morning. It was nice to have the Frostbite during what felt like the winter outside and made for a great time for all.
Cassandra and Hunter Levi, with their child Kyrin, made a beeline for the Children’s Carnival in the MSU 4-H Building at the Clare County Fairgrounds. Kyrin, who attends preschool in Farwell through Mid Michigan Community Action, couldn’t contain his excitement. When asked what his favorite activity was he declared emphatically, “EVERYTHING!”
Many groups had games and prizes for the kids, including Northern Michigan Children’s Alliance, Mid Michigan Community Action, and Ten Sixteen Recovery Network. Free drinks, snacks, and loads of prizes awaited the kids as did some time to warm up a bit for the parents.
Inside the Harrison Lions Club building the annual chili cook off took place, with recent Harrison transplant residents Michelle and Matt Dunaj taking first place for their “Chicken Crack Soup” entry that had bacon, ham, and chicken it in, a meat lover’s dish for sure. The couple had a leg up though, with Matt a chef who has taught in the Michigan prison system for quite some time.
A favorite that took 3rd place this year was Joe Burgess’ Cheesy Chicken and White Bean Chili. Joe grinds his own chipotle blend and it gave his chili a nice spark to heat you up in the winter.
Outside there was a polar plunge slide, three food trucks offering delicious culinary treats, and two warm up stations, one stocked with coffee for the adults and one with hot chocolate for the kiddies. Of course, there was the winter golf tournament as well!
Attendance was better than last year, when Mother Nature didn’t provide any snow at all and now that this year’s Frostbite is done, you can be sure all those who help coordinate and plan this event are already thinking about how to make next year’s Frostbite Winter Festival ever better!
