Return of snow brings back snowmobile festival to Gaylord

Paul Welitzkin, The Petoskey News-Review
·2 min read
Snowmobiling represents a vital part of the winter tourism season in Gaylord, according to Paul Beachnau of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. The Michigan Snowmobile Festival returns this weekend and enthusiasts can register to win cash drawings and other prizes at the tourism bureau office at 319 W. Main St. in downtown Gaylord from noon until 6 p.m. on Feb. 3.

GAYLORD — After a three-year hiatus for the COVID-19 pandemic and poor trail conditions, one of Gaylord's major winter events returns.

The Michigan Snowmobile Festival is ready for this weekend, running from Feb. 3-4, according to Paul Beachnau, executive director of the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. The Gaylord area has picked up enough snow in the last week or so to make this year's festival a go.

Beachnau said the trails are ready to host hundreds of snowmobile enthusiasts.

"While the conditions aren't ideal, they are rideable," he said. "The groomers have been out packing in the snow and so far over 200 have registered for the event."

The 2020 event was postponed until 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2022 event was called off because of icy trail conditions.

"It feels good to have it back," Beachnau said of this year's festival. "It was just too icy last year. We moved the dates forward in hopes of getting more reliable snow and then we had a very mild January."

Snowmobiling is a very important part of the winter tourism season for Gaylord and Otsego County, noted Beachnau.

"We are in the middle of over 500 miles of snowmobile trails. You can ride from Gaylord to Mackinaw City and then connectors can get you west to Petoskey and east to Alpena," said Beachnau.

This year’s festival consists of a two-day event called “Michigan’s Richest Snowmobile Fun Run.” Participants will have two days to visit several Gaylord area businesses and deposit registration slips at each stop.

"The more restaurants you can get to the better your chances of winning," Beachnau said.

While riders do not have to follow a certain route or stop at all locations, a guided ride will leave at 10:30 a.m. Saturday from the tourism bureau offices at 319 W. Main St. in downtown Gaylord.

The event concludes Saturday, Feb. 4 at the Eagles Hall at 515 S. Wisconsin Ave. with live music, beverages, complementary food, prizes and cash drawings of $1,000, $500 and $250. You must be present and at least 18 years old to win all prizes.

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Pre-registration is available online at www.gaylordmichigan.net and then click on Michigan Snowmobile Festival.  You can also register in-person at the tourism bureau office from noon until 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 3. All registrants must pick up a packet during those hours, and the first 100 to arrive in person will receive a free hat.

Besides the tourism bureau, festival sponsors include the Sled Shed, The Natural at Beaver Creek Resort, Extreme Power Sports, Sledhouse Snowmobile Rentals, County Wide Adventures and John Taylor Painting.

— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@gaylordheraldtimes.com.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Return of snow brings back snowmobile festival to Gaylord