February 13, 2019
From ice into snow through thaw and onto a flash frozen tundra, Downtown Petoskey remains open for business. The winds billowing off Lake Michigan came twisting over and around streets as the raucous gales brought winter enough for everyone, but soon, there will be a hovering sublime breeze just in time for Winter Carnival beginning on Thursday, February 14th through Sunday the 17th.
The perpetual polar vortex shrouding the northern climes helps to disengage any anxiety that ice sculptures will melt like cake frosting, snowmen will disappear into a puddle, and games and events will be nothing but slush bowls. We’ve seen the various conundrums of climate the last few years, but rest assured, this year in combination with President’s Weekend, fun will be found. In order to tell the tale of why we do this, I will concede to the Downtown Petoskey website the description of the Progressive Dinner on Thursday, through the evening activities on Friday, and Pennsylvania Park precociousness on Saturday and Sunday.
Since the 1920’s, folks, here in Petoskey, needed a diversion. Winters were long and languished into the depths of spring. One way to force a smile was to recreate and create. Thus, the Winter Carnival. In the past, most all events centered around the Winter Sports Park, but in recent memory, Downtown Petoskey has partnered and revitalized an important ritual necessary to survive the dark and cold. We are a hearty crew up here, and we enjoy the solitude along with the ability to take advantage of the winter sports, so inviting one and all from surrounding communities is commensurate with opening our doors into the spirit with which we live our lives: A wonderful community of friends and family connected to each other for survival in a small part of the world. We are a Great Lake town that loves to share our secret to life of having fun in the darkest of times. Spring may be around the corner, but let’s enjoy the snow and the ice and the warmth we provide.
