Winter Festival About More Than Ice, Snow Fun

HARRISON – While there is always a lot of focus on the Budd Lake events held during Frostbite Winter Festival, that is only one of the venues where attendees congregate to find some fun.

Lots of folks dropped by the Harrison City market to enjoy sampling the eight competing dishes during the Chili and Soup Cook-off. Some 100 people paid their $3 for three samples and a bowl of their favorite. They then cast votes for those favorites, leading to three happy winners: 1^st Place went to Barry Henry III for his “Cheeseburger Chili,” 2^nd Place to Matthew Thrush for his “Fire in the Hole Chili,” and 3^rd Place to Addy Carr for her “Mild and Meaty Chili.” The community can look forward to more good things from these chili royals.

Out at the Harrison Moose Lodge, 28 artisans and crafters from far and wide brought their wares, art, weavings, products, sculptures and so much more to the Vendors’ Fair – enough to keep visitors busy a good long while just viewing it all. The Harrison Area Chamber of Commerce reported that at least 100 people attended the Vendors Fair, and Silent Auction which was made possible by the generous donation of gifts by area businesses.

Also at the Moose was Clark the Juggler (Clark Lewis of Freeport, Michigan) who entertained by juggling, balancing (to the extreme), sword swallowing, and hoisting a fan stack of 10 folding chairs on his chin. Amazing – the kids in the audience thought so, too! And, yes, they were told “don’t do this at home.”

The Moose Lodge was the place to be Saturday evening, as well, for Comedy Night with the thoroughly entertaining comedy of Bill Hildebrandt. The 120 who attended found a delicious, generously-portioned meal and a truly enjoyable performance.

At the Harrison Lions Club, kids had an opportunity to get some lunch, pet some critters, play corn hole, get some airbrushed stencil tattoos, pick up a balloon or two, and even check out the interior of a Clare County Sheriff patrol car. Busy!

In all, it was another bustling, entertaining weekend made possible by the many hands of the Harrison Chamber of Commerce and its selfless, volunteering members, as well as all those people who come to Harrison to participate in events and support this community.

And, of course, now the planning starts for next year!

Anglers Wet Some Lines, Win Some Prizes

 By Dianne Alward-Biery

Cleaver Staff Writer

HARRISON – The weekend’s unseasonably warm weather might have brought to mind the question: Was it Winter Festival or Spring Festival? Of course, that’s a totally irrelevant question, because most anglers don’t really care so long as they get to wet a line and match wits with the critters swimming below the ice of Budd Lake.

And so it was that some 40 dedicated folks came out from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday to vie for prize money at the Frostbite Fishing Tourney. The competition yielded some happy winners again this year. Bringing in the largest sack of fish in the youth category was Liam Studebaker (.27 pound). Adults winning in that category were: 1^st Place Chad and Greg Wright (4.67 pounds); 2^nd Place Rocky Diamond (2.84 pounds); and 3^rd Place Team Howell (2.26 pounds).

The largest pike was claimed by Scott Johnson (6.05 pounds/29 inches).

The next big fishing competition in Harrison will be coming up in June. That will leave plenty of time for fishing afficionados to get their winter fishing gear cleaned up, dried out and stored away, and their favorite summer fishing holes lined up.

As for now? Well, it’s a good bet those fish have already found their way onto a platter with tartar sauce and some fries.