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Snow or no snow, Hart Winterfest is a go
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
HART — Despite a lackluster winter as far as snowfall is concerned, the annual Hart Winterfest scheduled for the weekend of Feb. 3 and 4 will happen whether we have snow or not.
The family-friendly event features a vintage snowmobile show, ice fishing tournament, soup walk, broom ball tournament and a winter golf outing. It was organized many years ago to beat the winter blues and combat cabin fever.
“Christmas and New Year’s are in the rearview mirror, so it kind of gets everybody back out,” said said Nichole Kleiner, Hart Economic and Redevelopment Team (HEART) director.
All activities will go on even if the weather doesn’t cooperate — except the ice fishing tournament. “The ice fishing tournament could be questionable,” said Kleiner.
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The free Vintage Snowmobile Show will run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Oceana County Fairgrounds.
“This year, our featured snowmobile will be Mercury, but all brands are welcome to be present,” said event organizer Kevin Hallack. Trophies will be awarded in different vintage categories: 1969 and older; 1970-1974; 1975-1979; 1980-1989; and 1990-2000. A panel of judges will vote in each category, and the public will vote for the people’s choice award, said Hallack.
R&T Colossal Kitchen food truck of Scottville will be on hand to provide hot and tasty food to warm up the snowmobilers and attendees.
The vintage snowmobile show includes a swap meet for buying, selling and trading snowmobile parts, said Hallack.
Last year, about 80 sleds competed in the show. “We had snow last year,” said Hallack. “There were close to 100 snowmobiles throughout the day that rode into the show. We opened the fence to the back of the property from the rail trail. If there is snow, we will have it open again.”
If Mother Nature cooperates, the Farm Bureau Ice Fishing Tournament takes place Saturday at the West Michigan Research Station on Oceana Drive. The tournament is open to any Michigan lake. Categories are longest pike or heaviest five panfish.
Winterfest attendees can warm up their taste buds during the Soup Walk Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hart businesses will offer their soups for sampling, and tasters can vote for their favorite. The cost is $5.
The Frozen Tin Man Winter Golf Outing is set for Saturday afternoon on Hart irrigation property at 1774 W. Polk Rd. The four-person scramble is played with tennis balls. A $35 registration fee covers nine holes of golf, three tennis balls, a bowl of soup and a hot dog.
Winterfest also includes Take Your Child to the Library Day, offering free activities for families at the Hart Area Public Library Saturday, Feb. 3.
The last Winterfest event is the Broom Ball Tournament finals game Sunday, Feb. 4 from 6-8 p.m. in the parking lot next to La Probadita. Games are scheduled leading up to the finale on Sunday nights all this month at John Gurney Park. Participants must bring their own broom and protective gear.
For more information about the events or to register to participate, visit https://www.takemetohart.org/winterfest.
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