Rockton Yeti Fest 2024 creating pure winter fun

By Marianne Mueller

REPORTER

Rockton Yeti Fest 2024 is putting the fun in this winter with four days of action. This year marks the ninth of this now popular and anticipated event.

Yeti Fest is billed as “A festival where the abominable snow people of Rockton and their friends come out to enjoy a mixture of winter related activities and is a celebration of all things winter and of course it all revolves around Yeti’s.” Walk, play, or skate like a Yeti.

This family fun event allows everyone to have the perfect dose of winter fun!

In preparation of this years event the “Legion of Snow Sculptors” are seeking help from the public. Bring yourself, family and friends Friday through Sunday, Jan. 26-28 out to assist in making snow and blocks for talented teams of sculptors to use in their detailed creations for an exhibition.

Sign up by clicking the link at http://vikingsinblack.com/modules/xforms/?form_id_3. Snow sculpting is expected to start on Wednesday, Feb. 7.

This family friendly event grows in popularity each year along with an increase in activities to participate in during the four-day event starting on Feb. 7-10.

Doggie Development Academy’s high flying Huskies Sled Dog team will be doing mushing demonstrations on Friday evening starting at 4 p.m until 7 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

After watching the teams in action guests will have a chance to meet and greet them and their owners.

Adults can warm up by putting on their best or cutest onesie to wear to a pub crawl on Friday night. Stop by Rookie’s, Pokie’s, Ye Olde Pub, Al’s Main St. Tap, the American Legion, Fibs, and Rockton Inn to have your card stamped. Turn in the card for a chance to win a prize.

Weather permitting – all are invited to help build a giant community snow fort in Settlers Park. Find the live Yeti in different locations throughout the weekend.

Saturday morning promised to start off with a dance party from 11 a.m. Until 12. Young or young at heart can dance with the Yeti at the Settler’s Park gazebo.

Take part in a scavenger hunt featuring a combination hunt and Bingo. Print out the scavenger hunt sheet. The sheet will also be posted in the comments section of the Yeti Fest Facebook page in the comments, under the discussion tab on Monday, Feb. 5. A limited amount of sheets will be available  at Village Hall starting that same week.

On the back is the list of participating locations to visit.

Yeti’s to be found are set to be hidden in plain sight at different locations.

Once you spot the Yeti’s name of the store in marker in the corresponding space on the card. If you get two traditional Bingo’s-either five across, down or a diagonal you win a prize.

Prize pick up is on Saturday at the Rockton Village Hall from 1 to 4 p.m. This portion of Yeti Fest starts on Wednesday, Feb. 8 and runs until Saturday. It can be done all at once or in the four days.

Always a proven favorite is Hot Cocoa Crawl, which is coming back on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 1 to 4 p.m. Tickets are on sale now to allow participants a chance to try a variety of flavors in a commemorative mug, complete with a cool stirring spoon at a cost of $12. After tickets are purchased they can be picked up at the Village Municipal Center, (Village Hall) the week before the event during office hours of 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. or the day of the event starting at 1 p.m. After visiting places offering the hot chocolate stop into the Village Hall to vote on your favorite flavor.

Local businesses will be open and offering Yeti specials on eating, drinking, shopping, or inside activities. More details on event times can be found on Facebook.

All are invited to dress in their best 90’s fashion while Livin’ La vida at the second annual Snow Ball on Saturday evening.

Put on your dancing shoes starting at 8 p.m. with music provided by a DJ as you transport back to the era in the Rockton American Center. The cost of the Snow Ball is $10 per person.