Empire Winterfest

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Sauna Fest returns to heat cool Northern Michigan

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Long relegated to back yards and backwoods cabins, saunas are enjoying a heyday in northern Michigan. Popup saunas appear at community events, portable saunas are available to rent, and private sauna gatherings transition effortlessly into pot-luck dinners with friends. The Sun interviewed Vlad Borza—co-organizer of the second annual Michigan Sauna Fest this weekend—to get his read on sauna popularity, what’s new at Sauna Fest, spring saunas vs winter saunas, what he does when he’s not sweating in a tiny house, and his vision for a floating sauna on a barge. Borza of Sleeping Bear Saunas and Nick Olson of Hearth Sauna—proselytizers of the local sauna movement—co-organized the Michigan Sauna Fest, which takes place in Traverse City’s Clinch Park from Friday, April 10, until Sunday April 12.

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Empire holds Winterfest on Saturday, February 21

As northern Michigan continues to experience a very snowy and cold winter, the Empire Area Community Center (EACC) plans to embrace the elements with the annual Empire Winterfest. Events will be hosted throughout the village of Empire on Saturday, Feb. 21, including the long-standing tradition of a polar plunge in South Bar Lake.

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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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