Winter Blues Festival
February 21 - 23, 2013

Beat the Winter Blues at the ^5th  annual Winter Blues Festival in Downtown Petoskey, February 21-23, 2013

The 5th annual Winter Blues Festival will be held Thursday through Saturday, February 21 – 23, 2013 in Downtown Petoskey.  Celebrate winter and beat the winter blues during the fun-filled week end event.  There’s something for everyone, and lots of fun for visitors to make Petoskey their destination for the President’s Day get away. 

Beat the Winter Blues at the 5th annual Winter Blues Festival in Downtown Petoskey, February 21-23, 2013.

WINTER BLUES EVENTS.......

Thursday, February 21

Retail Therapy. 11am to 4 pm. Beat the winter blues with some retail therapy. Visit our great stores in Downtown Petoskey and pick up an entry form. Bring your form(s) (one per store) to the Downtown offices at 216 Park Avenue by 5 p.m. Saturday, February 23. You could win a $100 Downtown Treasure Certificate.

Chocoholic Frolic. 3 pm to 7pm.  Scorecards will be available at the Downtown Offices, 216 Park Avenue, or participating stores.  Tour the stores and enjoy a wide variety of chocolate samples. Complete your card for a chance to win a Chocolate Lover's Gift Basket.
Participating Stores -
American Spoon Foods
Arlington Jewelers
Art Cats Gallery
Bearcub Outfitters
Circus Shop
Cutler's
Fustini's Oils and Vinegars
Grandpa Shorter's Gifts
Grain Train Natural Foods Co-op
Horizon Books
Mackinaw Trail Winery
McLean and Eakin Booksellers
Murdick’s Fudge
Northern Michigan Artists Market
Northgoods
Pretty Woman Boutique
Rocking Horse Toy Company
Stafford's Gallery
Sunglass Shoppe
Sweet Maria’s Confections
Talulu Beauty Lounge

Petoskey’s Got Talent. 7:00 pm in the Rose Room in Stafford’s Perry Hotel. For entry rules and registration click here.  Semi-finals at 7:00 p.m. Finals at 9:00 p.m. Sponsored by Stafford’s Hospitality. Cash prizes for first, second and third place.

Friday, February 22

Retail Therapy. 11 am to 4 pm.  Beat the winter blues with some retail therapy. Visit our great stores in Downtown Petoskey and pick up an entry form. Bring your form(s) (one per store) to the Downtown offices at 216 Park Avenue by 7 p.m. You could win a $100 Downtown Treasure Certificate!

Whine and Dine.  6:00 pm.  4th annual Whine and Dine progressive dinner.  Cost is $45 per person. Make your reservations early by calling 231-622-8501.

Convene at American Spoon Foods for appetizers
Chandler’s Wine Cellar - Wine and Cheese
Mackinaw Trail Winery - Fustini’s Salad & Wine Tasting
Whitecaps Grill and Spirits - Soup
Stafford’s Perry Hotel - Entrée
City Park Grill - Dessert

Saturday, February 23

Chase the Blues 5K Run Run/Walk.  8:00 am.  Runners and walkers are invited to chase away the winter blues in a fun run or walk scheduled to step off at 8:30 am.  Starting line-up at 8 am at the gazebo in Pennsylvania Park.  To register, click here.  Chase the Blues is sponsored by Reid Furniture with support from Grain Train Natural Foods Co-op, American Spoon Foods, and Stafford's Hospitality.

Play! Downtown. 10am to 2pm.  Children and parents are welcome to visit participating stores and enjoy games, puzzles, activities, arts and crafts, story time and more.
Participating Stores -
American Spoon Foods – Blind Taste Test.  Guess the fruit in two of our most delicious Michigan fruit preserves from 11 a.m. to 2 p.
Art Cats Gallery – Hands-on painting. Participants have 30-seconds to add to a painting. The final painting will be awarded to the winner of an in-store drawing.
Bearcub Outfitters – Giant games, crossword puzzles, word search, water and treats.
Circus Shop – Readings on the half hour of “Missy Swan’s Red Coat” and an in-store children’s fashion show.
Grandpa Shorter’s Gifts – Make a lion bag puppet
Grand Traverse Pie Company – Get a free slice of pie
J.W. Shorter and Son Mercantile - Storytime
Love Bug – Open play for children birth to three years
McLean & Eakin Booksellers - Monster Mash!  Arts and crafts for monsters of all ages!
Northgoods – Face Painting!
Petoskey District Library – The library will make available its collection of board games for families to try out. Also popcorn and a drink (fruit punch or lemonade). You may bring your own games to share and/or your own drink is plastics or cans. From 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. come to an hour of stories featuring blue, the “blues,” or winter and more for children ages three through seven. Several stories will be featured along with music, movement, art activities, finger plays, puppets and more. Parental participation is a must and the activity is free. Children’s Program Room.
Rocking Horse Toy Company – Game day – challenge the staff and others – win prizes
Sunglass Shoppe – Hot chocolate bar
Talulu Beauty Lounge - Kids Nail Painting
Vogue Salon and Spa – Children’s haircuts for ages 2 to 13 for $10

Retail Therapy. 11 am to 4 pm.  Beat the winter blues with some retail therapy. Visit our great stores in Downtown Petoskey and pick up an entry form. Bring your form(s) (one per store) to the Downtown offices at 216 Park Avenue by 7 p.m. You could win a $100 Downtown Treasure Certificate!

Pro-Am HotDish Cookoff.  2 pm to 4 pm.   Mackinaw Trail Winery.  Public judging ($5 per person) begins at 2:15. Restaurants will compete in the professional category, and individuals in the amateur category.  To enter and for complete rules and regulations, click here.

Blue Renew.  6:00 pm.  A mass Renewal of Vows Celebration. If you’d like to renew your wedding vows, join us in Pennsylvania Park by the gazebo for Blue Renew. Check-in is at 5:30 in the park. Sign up here to get your “official” Winter Blues Festival certificate of renewal.

Fabulous In-Store Specials include:

Reid Furniture will take an additional 5% off any purchases that have blue in them.  This will include any special orders too.  Example: If they order a blue leather sectional, they will receive an additional 5% off the sale price.  This will include accessories, furniture, and wall art.

Meyer Ace Hardware will be giving 20% off any regular priced blue product. some exclusions apply.

Bearcub Outfitters will be having their Big 1-2-3 Sale.  Select items will be 20 to 70% off!

Ruff Life Pet Outfitters will be giving 25% off all items "blue".

Back to Nature is offering 20% to 50% off for the month of February.

Items is offering 20% off all blue merchandise.

Northern Michigan Artists Market – Buy something blue – get 10% off. Wear blue – get an additional 5% off. Be creative! Tell us why the artwork you select is blue and get your discount.  

It's Always Good - Huge sale!!  Past Season items 30-50% off.

Rocking Horse Toy Company - Snow Toys will be 50% off and Games and Puzzles will be 20% off. 

Winter Blues Festival Music Schedule!

Thursday – Saturday, February 21-23, Mitchell Street Pub
Best, unrivaled rock and blues juke box in the North.

Thursday, February 21, Stafford’s Perry Hotel Rose Room
Petoskey's Got Talent - 7 pm

Friday, February 22, Noggin Room, Stafford’s Perry Hotel
Mike Ridley, 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, February 23, Noggin Room, Stafford’s Perry Hotel
Scott Shillings, 8-11 p.m.

Saturday, February 23, City Park Grill
Apres Ski Party, 10 p.m.

Sandra Lee Photography