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Winterfest, polar plunge, returns to Empire

As Leelanau County embraces a snowy winter, the Empire Area Community Center (EACC) plans to revive a favorite winter tradition — the Empire Winterfest. Events will be hosted throughout the village on Saturday, Feb. 22. Winterfest was last held in Empire in 2018, but had been celebrated for decades before. The most well-known event — a polar plunge in South Bar Lake — will return this year, along with a number of other activities including public saunas, a neighbor coffee hour, potluck, and live music. 

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Glen Arbor & Empire Winterfests, Saturday, Feb. 18

Don’t miss the annual Glen Arbor Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 18. Festivities include the Perch Fishing Contest and Chili Cook-off.

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Enjoy the Empire Outdoors

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Since the mid-winter freeze is here, and since Empire and Glen Arbor’s “Winterfest” celebrations return this weekend, we decided to chat with Wayne “Soni” Aylsworth, whose all-season apparel outfitter, Empire Outdoors, is wrapping up its first year in business.

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Empire Winter Fest schedule

From staff reports Here is the schedule of events for Empire’s upcoming “Winter Fest”, which will be held Feb. 13-15 and is sponsored by the Empire Chamber Of Commerce. February 13 • Empire Eagles Pool Tournament 6:30 p.m. Sign Up – Empire Village Inn ◦ (50/50 Drawing) ◦ All Proceeds go to the Empire Eagles […]

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Squirrel wars and a mouse story, too

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The squirrels arrived the first summer when the English walnut tree bore nuts. The tree was perhaps nine or 10 years old and until the summer of the squirrels there had been nothing to show of its true nature. The walnuts were formed as walnuts are, perfectly, with the insides of their halved shells, the nut meat, resembling intricate passageways of brain tissue.

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Take the Plunge at Empire Winterfest

Just a reminder to mark your calendar for Saturday, Feb. 15 for Winterfest in Empire. Word has it that the fine folks from Grocers Daughter Chocolate Shop will once again serve their fantastic hot chocolate to all who venture down to beach.

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Chillin’ at Glen Arbor, Empire Winterfests

Did you take part in this past weekend’s annual Winterfests in Glen Arbor and Empire? If not, you can experience the glory by watching these videos of the winners of this year’s Perch Fishing Contest being crowned on the deck at Boonedocks. And you can dive beneath the ice into South Bar Lake in solidarity with locals Kathy Young and Jack Gyr.

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Celebrate Empire Winterfest with Polar Dip

Don’t miss this weekend’s Winterfest activities in Empire. Plunge into South Bar Lake during the Polar Dip at 2 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 16, and enjoy hot chocolate around a bonfire afterwards. That evening the Glen Lake Manor will feature a wine and chocolate pairing and a late Valentine’s dinner

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Takin’ the plunge in Empire

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Are you nuts if you jump through frozen ice into a frigid lake in February? Perhaps. But if you jump, take a victory lap, and then jump again, you’re definitely nuts! Check out this video of Empire resident Gerry Shiffman (with Jack Gyr and others) taking part in the annual Polar Dip as part of Empire’s Winterfest this past weekend.

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Recalling the ghost of Winterfest past

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It was the time of Winterfest, mid-February, in the village of Empire, when temperatures dipped well below the freezing mark. Snow had been shoveled to clear an area for ice-skating on South Bar Lake. Earlier in the day a fire truck had been there to spray a fine mist of water making a smooth surface.

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