guide tO big lAKe Winterfest 2014

CelebrAte tHe iCe! big lAKe Winterfest 2014 Contributed by Ina Mueller

Join us in beautiful Big Lake on February 15 & 16 as we ‘Celebrate the Ice’ with the 3rd annual Big Lake WinterFest!

Brought to you by Lakeshore Entertaining & Event Management, LLC, Big Lake Trails, Inc., Big Lake Chamber of Commerce and Big Lake Community Council, you’ll find fun for the entire family!

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HELICOPTER RIDES> Come take a helicopter ride over Big Lake with Tanalian Air – or better yet – FLY ONE, keep it in the circle for 15 seconds and be entered to win an hour’s worth of Helicopter Flight Training!

Hand PaintedCrystal, Glass & More!

rita@yankeeskitchen.comwww.yankeeskitchen.com907.355.RITA (7482)

Yankee’s KitchenFUNCTIONAL ART FOR EVERYONE

MENTION THIS AD AND GET 10% OFF

12 Years in Business!

Custom Tie Dye - Custom Sewing - Custom Dog Coats

775-4257Eastlake Mall, Big Lake

Custom Tie Dye - Custom Sewing - Custom Dog Coats

775-4257Eastlake Mall, Big Lake

All photoS uSed in thiS Section Are brought to you by FlAUNT PHOTOGrAPHy

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Winterfest 2014

HELICOPTER RIDES> Come take a helicopter ride over Big Lake with Tanalian Air – or better yet – FLY ONE, keep it in the circle for 15 seconds and be entered to win an hour’s worth of Helicopter Flight Training!

DOG SLEDDING> Cheer on the little tykes and watch the fearless 120 Races with Big Lake Aurora Lions. Watch the Aurora Dog Mushers Dog Sled races – or better yet – race one during the “Businessman’s Race”

All photoS uSed in thiS Section Are brought to you by FlAUNT PHOTOGrAPHy

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LANTERN LIFTOFF> Help support the Big Lake Food Pantry, purchase a Chinese lantern and join the group as we let them off together Saturday evening! Come partake of the Sunday morning pancake feed sponsored by the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce!

FROZEN T-SHIRT CONTEST> You’ve heard of the “wet t-shirt contest”… well come try your luck at the Big Lake Chamber of Commerce “Frozen t-shirt” contest! How fast can you take a t-shirt, frozen into a block of ice, get it out and put it on?

Winterfest 2014

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The Crystal MandalaThe Crystal Mandala

907-892 5562 Tues-Sat 11am to 7pmEastlake Mall, Big Lake Sunday 11am to 5pm

Ask about our classes on Saturday from 2-5pm

SCOTT MUELLER MEMORIAL FIREWORKS DISPLAY> Sandwiched into the start of the Iron Dog Race, Big Lake WinterFest takes place in the middle of the Big Lake Ice. Activities and events run Saturday, Feb. 15th beginning at 10:00am and closing with the Scott Mueller Memorial Fireworks Display at 7:00pm!

fireWOrKs On feb. 15tH

big lAKe, AK

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Located in the East Lake Mall in beautiful downtown Big Lake Alaska!

Prime Ribevery Weekend!

call 892-3633

is Friday, February 14thValentine’s Day

big lAKe trAils, inC.Development of the Big Lake Trails organization is the perfect example of average people seeing a need in their community and then banding together to meet that need.

Through the Comprehensive Planning process in 2007, one of the very important values identified was the preservation and development of recreational trails in our community. These trails were found to be an important part of economic health of the area. At the same time, there was an observation that many of our historical trails have been lost due to past development and many more were in danger from future development. If we wanted to preserve winter time sports and a vital part of our economic base, we had to take action. Dan Mayfield, Dan Kruse, Viki Kaas, Monica Thomas, Ina Mueller and Cathy Mayfield began work to investigate how we could best address this need. In 2008, we resolved to develop a perpetual non-profit corporation to ensure trail needs within the Big Lake area are addressed. While our purpose is multi-faceted, simply put, it is to promote, preserve, reserve and maintain trails in and around the

community of Big Lake for their historical, recreational, social and economic benefits.Non-Profit 501c3 status was granted in October of 2008. Since then we have maintained area trails, developed trails, secured easements, worked with the Borough to register local trails and worked with both the Borough and the Railroad to preserve trails that were endangered by that development. We are a community service organization made up of an all-volunteer group of residents and non-residents. We engage in the work we do for the love of trails and winter time sports. We have been called “one of the most exciting trail groups in the Valley” because we love what we do. The two Tucker Sno-Cats, Bombardier and snowmachines we use to groom winter trails are now prominent fixtures in the Big Lake Community.

Funding for our mission is provided mainly through grants from the State, and the Mat-Su Borough. These grants are supplemented by membership fees, fund raisers and donations from the private sector. State funding, which has always been the lion’s share of support, took a huge cut this year due to lack of snowmachine registrations. Snowmachine registrations are the only source of State funding for

trail grooming. Please contact your Legislator to let them know that this needs to be changed and how important safely maintained trails are to you.

In the meantime, please join Big Lake Trails at the 2014 Big Lake WinterFest, Saturday February 15th for the Family Fun Snowmachine Run.

Here's How it Works:Visit us at the Big Lake Trails tent to enter ($20 entry fee per individual)Get your hand stamped.

Journey around the Lake to visit each of 4 stops on our trail systemCollect a colored index card at each stop where you can also enjoy hotdogs, sodas, chips, and a nice visit and take a look at one of our groomers Tucker–2.

Return by 5 pm to the registration tent to check in and have your cards entered into the cage for the drawing!

Drawing is at 5PM sharp for 1st Place Prize and several amazing door prizes!! Cards will not be accepted for drawing after 5PM!

It can be a fast run, or a leisurely family run. The goal is simple: Just HAVE FUN!!!!

big lAKe, AKActivities Include:

Helicopter RidesDog Sled Rides & Races

Kitty Kat 120 RacesFamily Fun Snowmachine Run

Big Lake Trails Snowmachine RideBunny Boot Bing Competition

Frozen T-Shirt CompetitionIce Fishing

Big Fungus Concert & Beer GardenScott Mueller Memorial Fireworks

DisplayFood VendorsSales Vendors

And much more!

Get Involved:Be a sponsor

Be a food vendorBe a sales vendorHost an activity

Don’t miss out on the fun!

Visit our website at www.biglakewinterfest.com

or find us on FacebookOr call (907) 230-0935

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Lockhart & ErskineHoliday Garden

Fine Personal &Household Furnishings

Antique, Mid-Century,Vintage, One-of-a-Kind

Designer ClothingPurses, Scarves, JewelryPartyware & Partywear

Gifts, Furniture& Much, Much More!

Tuesday thru Sunday12-6907-240-8116

EASTLAKE MALLBIG LAKE

BEER GARDEN & LIVE MUSIC> Enjoy a cold one at the beer garden while you listen to the great sounds of Big Fungus in the main event tent on Saturday, from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm!

> Sample a wide variety of great food and browse the rows of vendors!

februAry 15tH & 16tHWinterfest 2014

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FAMILY FUN SNOWMACHINE RUN> Bring out the snowmachine and win lots of prizes with the Big Lake Trails, Inc. Family Fun Snowmachine Run on Saturday, or explore the Big Lake Trails on Sunday with a guided trail ride.

BUNNY BOOT BLING COMPETITION> Get out the glue gun and get ready, set, BLING those Bunny Boots for the Bunny Boot Bling competition. Just how snazzy and creative can you get with a pair of big, white clunkers?

Winterfest 2014

big lAKe, AK

WATCH FOR THE COMPLETE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS AS IT UNFOLDS AT WWW.BIGLAKEWINTERFEST.COM