Yetifest: The Ultimate Way To Meet A Yeti

Jennifer Symonsby Jennifer Symons

In Events.

Yetifest: The Ultimate Way To Meet A Yeti

We are deep in the throes of winter here in Michigan. Nothing makes this cold weather more pleasant than an encounter with a Yeti. In Suttons Bay, a whole festival is planned to welcome the legendary man himself. 2017’s Yetifest kicks off January 28th and promises fun activities for the whole family.

Photo courtesy of Yetifest
Photo courtesy of Yetifest

The Activities

The Scavenger Hunt takes fun-lovers into local businesses. Each participating store has a different Yeti that needs to be identified. Those who correctly identify each Yeti can participate in a drawing. Winners of the drawing receive gift certificates to various Suttons Bay stores. Yeti lovers can also look forward to a silent auction at the Suttons Bay Trading Company. It is stocked full of great items. Bid on local wines, gift certificates, and more. Specifically for children, there is a Yeti Discovery program at the Suttons Bay library. This includes a snack and a craft. Before heading to Yetifest, be sure to practice your snowman building skills, too; a friendly snowman building competition is also available. And of course, ‘Frozen’ will be playing for free at the Bay Theatre at 12:30PM. In the evening, head over to the Suttons Bay High School for Art in the Atrium and the Variety Show.

Come prepared for the snowman building competition! Photo courtesy of Yetifest
Come prepared for the snowman building competition! Photo courtesy of Yetifest

The Food

What good is a festival without food? The Yetifest’s annual chili cook-off is once again hosted by Hoplot Brewing Company. Local Leelanau County restaurants participate in this intense competition. Various varieties are available, including five-alarm, white chili, and vegan options. Some of these masterpieces are extra spicy, therefore, we advise that you taste them with a Hoplat brew in your hand. While enjoying the chili cook-off, be sure to sit around the fire pit and take in the scenic landscape that makes Hoplot so well known.

The chili cook-off is a wild, delicious event. Photo courtesy of Yetifest
The chili cook-off is a wild, delicious event. Photo courtesy of Yetifest

The Good to Know

Head Yetis, Kim and Karen Pontius report that the only cost is if you choose to participate in the chili cook-off. Proceeds go to the Suttons Bay Chamber of Commerce. This is a full day of activities and fun with little cost. Head out to Suttons Bay this month to spend the day with several Yetis and many of their biggest fans.

Have you ever been to Yetifest? Which activity is your favorite?