| People who live in the lakes region of Minnesota year | | | | winter fun. This year's chairman, Mike Wiebolt, owner |
| round appreciate the area's beauty no matter what | | | | of Pelican Square Market in Pequot Lakes, has done a |
| the season. That's why several thousand hearty | | | | wonderful job putting together an event that has |
| Minnesotans visit Breezy Point Resort in early January | | | | something for everyone." |
| every year. They come to celebrate winter in the | | | | While many activities are fun for kids, there are |
| form of Ice Fest, an annual event that is a | | | | plenty of activities to keep adults entertained, |
| cooperative effort between Breezy Point and the | | | | especially after the sun goes down. A karaoke |
| Brainerd Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. | | | | contest is held dockside at Breezy Point both Friday |
| This year's event was held Friday and Saturday, Jan. | | | | and Saturday evenings, followed by live |
| 5-6, at Breezy Point on the shores of magnificent | | | | entertainment in the resort's Marina Lounge and the |
| Pelican Lake. While the winter of 2006-2007 lacked | | | | neighboring Commander Bar and Primetime Food and |
| the normal snow cover, the frozen surface of Pelican | | | | Spirits. |
| Lake provided an ideal venue for winter activities | | | | Unfortunately, due to the unseasonably warm |
| ranging from ice skating to ice golfing. | | | | weather and poor ice conditions, both the ice auger |
| Ice Fest is geared to entertain the entire family. | | | | competition and the snowmobile races were cancelled |
| Horse-drawn wagon rides, figure skating, hockey, | | | | this year. Breezy Point's Ice Fest is the home of the |
| face painting, and ice fishing kept young and old alike | | | | World Ice Auger Competition, a contest that pits |
| moving throughout the day. | | | | contestants and their highly modified ice augers |
| Those ready for a break could grab a hot cider or | | | | against each other to see who could punch through |
| bratwurst from the heated concession stand | | | | the ice the fastest. A muscle powered division also |
| operated by a group of Pequot Lakes hockey moms. | | | | exists for the old school ice fishers out there. |
| For the daring, helicopter rides were available that | | | | The weekend celebration culminated Saturday night |
| gave riders an aerial tour around Pelican Lake. | | | | with an ice dance at the Marina Lounge and a huge |
| "The purpose of Ice Fest is to get people outside | | | | fireworks display over the frozen waters of Pelican |
| and have a little fun," said Dave Gravdahl, general | | | | Lake. |
| manager of Breezy Point Resort and one of the | | | | Enjoying all of Minnesota's four seasons is one of the |
| originators of Ice Fest."Our first event was held in | | | | great pleasures of living in the lakes region. Enjoying |
| 1994 after some us in the Chamber of Commerce | | | | Ice Fest at Breezy Point on a January weekend |
| began developing our idea for a way to celebrate | | | | makes living here even better. |