Apple Valley’s Mid-Winter Fest returns Feb. 2-3
This year’s Mid-Winter Fest button was designed by Apple Valley High School 11th-grader Michael Richardson.
A weekend of winter fun is in store at Apple Valley’s Mid-Winter Fest Feb. 2-3.
Now in its 36th year, the annual celebration hosted by the city’s Parks and Recreation Department features family-oriented activities throughout the weekend at the Apple Valley Community Center, Valleywood Golf Course and other sites throughout the city.
New events this year include a treasure hunt for youths at the Apple Valley Teen Center and a concert at the community center by the Southview Singers, a 50-student choir from Apple Valley’s Southview Elementary.
The medallion hunt, a perennial festival favorite, returns this year for teams of sleuths to search out a medallion hidden in one of the city’s 50 parks. Clues will be posted at the Apple Valley Community Center throughout the weekend Feb. 2 and 3, and the finder of the medallion wins $250. Last year’s medallion was discovered in the playground area at Quarry Point Park by Corey Bixby of Farmington.
An ice-fishing demonstration hosted by the Minnesota Valley In-Fisherman Club was a popular draw at last year’s festival; it returns this year to Lac Lavon Lake, with equipment provided for guests to give the winter sport a try.
The community center will take on a family carnival atmosphere Saturday with face painting, inflatable jumpers, balloon animals and mini golf. Other activities at the community center that day include a reptile show, ice carving, bingo, youth pie-eating contest, and a community bonfire and marshmallow roast.
Valleywood Golf Course hosts a Mid-Winter Fest event on Saturday evening with a 6 p.m. concert by singer-songwriter Michael Monroe, whose performance is part of the Frozen Apple concert series sponsored by the Apple Valley Arts Foundation.
Guests at the 2011 Mid-Winter Fest enjoyed horse-drawn hayrides at Valleywood Golf Course. At this year’s festival the golf course is playing host to a concert by singer-songwriter Michael Monroe in Valleywood’s new clubhouse. (File photo)
The Apple Valley Teen Center is playing host to an array of youth-oriented activities. On Friday, Feb. 1, the venue will hold a dance party for teens with disabilities; the treasure hunt and middle school “DJ dance party” are planned Feb. 2 and a Super Bowl party Feb. 3.
A Mid-Winter Fest button is required for all events. This year’s button, which was designed by Apple Valley High School 11th-grader Michael Richardson, is $2 in advance of the festival and is available at the Apple Valley Community Center, Valleywood Golf Course, City Hall, teen center, city sports arenas and all municipal liquor stores. Buttons are $3 at the door.
The local Lions Club is hosting a spaghetti dinner in conjunction with the festival Thursday, Jan. 31, at the Apple Valley American Legion, 14521 Granada Drive.
A full Mid-Winter Fest schedule, along with registration forms for snow softball and the other sports tournaments, is at www.cityofapplevalley.org.
