TRAVERSE CITY —
Snow carver Gary Conger chipped away at a chunk of snow he hoped to turn into a cactus, not a puddle.
Mild temperatures forced participants in the region's three weekend winter festivals to find other ways to celebrate events that traditionally hinge on plenty of ice and snow. Conger is a member of one of 10 snow carving teams working on sculptures at Traverse City's Open Space for the Cherry Capital Winter Wowfest, which starts today.
Conger spent time on his sculpture Thursday but thought he might need a "Plan B."
"We are working on a cactus and a man in a sombrero and while it is more pleasant than working with a 20-mile wind in your face, the weather is a challenge," he said.
Local festivals found alternatives to some of the weekend's scheduled events made difficult by lack of snow.
Planners think there's still fun to be had during Saturday's Lake Ann Snow Pine Fest and at Shiver by the River in Frankfort. Traverse City's Winter Wowfest runs through Monday.
"We have had to eliminate the ice fishing events, ice rescue demonstration and the snowmobile races," said Joanne Bartley, executive director of the Frankfort-Elberta Chamber of Commerce.
Bartley said the canceled events drew many visitors to Shiver by the River in the past.
"I feel bad for the town, but there will still be a lot to do here," she said.
Horse-drawn carriage rides, the Betsie Bay Frozen 5K and Kids Run, winter parade and a free Garden Theater screening of "A Charlie Brown Valentine" still will take place in downtown Frankfort.
Tanya Struble, who helped organize Lake Ann's sixth annual festival, said activities are planned throughout Saturday.
"We have added games that are good to go if the weather is good, bad or indifferent," she said.
This year's event celebrates Lake Ann's 150th anniversary. The festival is free of charge and includes a lumberjack pancake breakfast, broomball tournament, beard contest and live music.
"Don't be hesitant to come if you are worried about the weather," Struble said.
Conger's son, Brian, the more experienced of the two Saginaw sculptors, made advance drawings and a clay sculpture to plan exactly where to chip away at the 8-foot snow cube. They continued to work at the Open Space, despite less-than-ideal conditions.
"The soft snow makes the intricate details harder to achieve," Brian said.
Region
Related Photos
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Brian Conger, of Saginaw, works on a snow sculpture at the Open Space for this weekend's Winter Wowfest. Record-Eagle/Jan-Michael Stump
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