Snow, cold welcomed participants to Alpenfrost winter festival

The Petoskey News-Review
·1 min read

GAYLORD — Snow and cold temperatures greeted those who participated in Alpenfrost, Gaylord's annual winter festival on Feb. 17.

While snow and cold shouldn't be surprising in February, a recent period of warmth made things interesting for Alpenfrost President Meagan Rinck.

From left, Pierce Rinck, 10, James Massey, 12, and Charles Moody, 13, provided soup at the Alpenfrost Soup Cookoff sponsored by the Kiwanis Club at the North Life Church. Samplers were rewarded with hot, tasty soup after making a donation to the Otsego County Food Pantry.
From left, Pierce Rinck, 10, James Massey, 12, and Charles Moody, 13, provided soup at the Alpenfrost Soup Cookoff sponsored by the Kiwanis Club at the North Life Church. Samplers were rewarded with hot, tasty soup after making a donation to the Otsego County Food Pantry.

"We have had to omit some things that were on the schedule because of the lack of snow," Rinck said.

At 9 a.m. Saturday, runners braved the cold for the Frosty 5K run sponsored by the Gaylord Area Convention and Tourism Bureau. Hagen Zein of Gaylord was the first male runner to cross the finish line in a time of 19:33. Michelle Witt of Rapid City won's the women's title with a time of 24:43.

Hagen Zein was the men's winner in the Frosty 5K run on Feb. 17 at Alpenfrost with a time of 19:33.
Hagen Zein was the men's winner in the Frosty 5K run on Feb. 17 at Alpenfrost with a time of 19:33.
Michelle Witt of Rapid City topped all women in the Frosty 5K run on Feb. 17 at Alpenfrost with a time of 24:43.
Michelle Witt of Rapid City topped all women in the Frosty 5K run on Feb. 17 at Alpenfrost with a time of 24:43.

There was an arts and crafts fair at the E-Free Church. Meanwhile, a soup cookoff showcasing children's cooking skills everyone with hot soup on a cold day. Those who sampled the soup provided a non-perishable item for the Otsego County Food Pantry.

This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Snow, cold welcomed participants to Alpenfrost winter festival