20th Klondike Days in Eagle River, Wisconsin Most Multi- Faceted Winter Family Event
gengberg January 27th, 2010
January 27, 2010
TIME-BOUND NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release
Trig’s Klondike Days, “Wisconsin’s Most Multi-Faceted Winter Family
Event,” Will Glide Into its Twentieth Year, Sat. and Sun., Feb. 20 and 21
(2010), in Eagle River, Wisconsin;
New Events include Antique Cutter and Sleigh Contest, and Third
Annual Snowshoe Races
Eagle River, Wisconsin More than 15,000 people are expected to attend
Trig¹s 20th Annual Klondike Days, Sat. and Sun., Feb. 20 and 21 (2010), in
Eagle River, Wisconsin, and take a stroll through the historic Rendezvous
encampment; watch fast-paced lumberjack competitions; cheer dogs and horses
pulling weighted sleds; enjoy elegant Native American Dance performances;
participate in snowshoe races; and nosh buffalo burgers and Paul Bunyan’s
brownie… which are only some of the highlights of “an entertaining,
educational, northern Wisconsin winter weekend filled with family-oriented
events, competitions and activities.”
“Klondike Days is a marvelous way to spend a winter weekend,” says Christine
Schilling, the event’s executive director. “We have a non-stop string of
activities, competitions, music, Native American heritage, culture, food,
and lots of fun for everyone,” she adds.
At the Rendezvous encampment, re-enactors this year joined by the Hidden
Prairie Rendezvous Club from Phillips, Wisconsin — actually live outside,
wear the clothes, eat the foods, and re-create events and activities from an
earlier era, including tomahawk and knife throwing, trading, muzzle-loader
shooting, blacksmithing, cooking, and much more. The re-enactors enjoy
giving samples of their authentic voyageur food to visitors and passersby,
and also telling what life was like in those days. Trade goods (wares, furs,
trinkets, etc.) will be for sale at the encampment, as well as the sugary,
open-fire popped kettle-corn, funnel cakes, and old-fashioned cookies that
everyone loves.
Some of the major competitions at Trig¹s Klondike Days include lumberjack
(and Jill) competitions; horse and dog weight pulls; and chainsaw carving.
“You¹ll be amazed at the unbelievable weights those horses and dogs can
pull; or how fast a chainsaw can turn a log into an eagle or a bear, and,
before you know it, you¹ll be cheering for your favorites,” says Schilling.
A Native American Cultural Exposition at the Northland Pines High School
shows and tells about Ojibwa culture and lore through plays, storytelling,
drum chants, songs, and dancing in authentic dress. There’s also a huge,
juried craft show and sale at the High School, featuring northwoods crafts,
carvings, and more.
– New at Klondike Days this year is an Antique Sleigh Rally, a friendly
competition between antique sleigh and cutter owners where each competitor
parades their horse and sleigh ensemble around a groomed track that will be
located on the Northland Pines’ School grounds. Each competitor is to be
dressed in the time period correct clothing to match the age of their sleigh
or cutter. The competitors will be judged by a panel of three judges in ten
different classes including Single Horse, Multiple Horse, Single Pony,
Multiple Pony, Single Draft Horse, Multiple Draft Horse, Best in show for
Sleigh ensemble, and Most Authentic. There will also be a prize for the
Klondike Crowd Favorite! This event will start on Saturday with hookup time
at 11 a.m.; and the exhibition will start at 1 p.m.
– Third Annual Snowshoe Challenge:
The Third Annual Snowshoe Challenge at Klondike Days will take place on
Saturday, February 20, (2010), on a course running through the woods behind
Rocking W Stables off Pleasure Island Road near the high school. The
Challenge includes 3-mile and 6-mile races for the serious competitors, with
awards given to the top 3 in each age division; a one-mile fun run with no
prizes or categories; and a children¹s race with medals for all
participants.
For those who’d like to try snowshoes for the first time, there will be a
Snowshoe Demonstration Station set up near the snowshoe event where novices
can strap on a pair of snowshoes and tromp around to experience the mode of
transportation used in the fur trade era.
– Chainsaw Carving Competition:
Top local and national chainsaw carvers will demonstrate their skills to
spectators and judges both days as they compete for cash prizes in the
annual chainsaw-carving competition at Klondike Days. The event, sponsored
by First National Bank of Eagle River, will take place at the High School.
– Klondike Craft Show:
The Klondike Craft Show, sponsored by River Valley State Bank, will
celebrate its 20th year at Klondike Days, proudly presenting a gathering of
over 100-juried crafters, featuring fine-quality handcrafted rugs,
beautifully-made items to wear, art work, photography, wooden vases and
bowls, jewelry, furniture, metal work, fur products, taste treats, wood
carvings, floral displays, and so much more for home or personal needs.
– Cultural Exposition / Waswagoning Dance Theatre:
Nick Hockings, internationally-known Native culture entrepreneur will again
bring his popular Waswagoning Dance Theatre to Klondike Days on Saturday.
The Waswagoning Dance Theatre presents traditional Ojibwe dances in a
contemporary manner, with special effects such as stage lighting and fogging
to enhance the show. Dances include the Contemporary Women’s Fancy Dance,
the War Shield Dance, the Eagle Vision Dance, the Women’s Jingle Dress
Dance, and many more, with an explanation before each dance. A cultural Pow
Wow is planned for Sunday, between 11 a.m. and 1:30 pm. in the High School
Field House.
– Dog Weight Pull:
Klondike Days attendees who enjoy watching dogs at work are encouraged to
watch many different dogs try their paw at pulling a very heavily-loaded
sled both Saturday and Sunday, with a $1,500 cash purse per day. Competition
is held whether it is 20 degrees below zero and snowing or 40 degrees (above
zero) and sunny — or anywhere in between. After all, this is Wisconsin and
the climate can change in minutes or overnight. Sponsored by
WRJO/WERL-Heartland Communications.
– Horse Weight Pull:
Teams of draft horses will compete for a total purse of $7500 in the Great
Northern Log Pull Classic starting at 11 AM both days in the only outdoor
winter horse pull in the state.
– Lumberjack Competition:
At the Great Northern Lumberjack Competition, individuals and teams, both
men and women, will compete in 12 events. The roar of the chainsaw and the
crack of the ax will echo as lumberjacks (and jills) compete head-to-head in
chainsawing, crosscutting, and ax throwing. There will be more than $7750 in
cash and prizes at stake in this competition sponsored by Wild Eagle Lodge
and Husqvarna Forest & Garden.
– Educational Programming at Klondike Days includes booths by The Eagle
River Historical Society; and Teaching Drum School where Native skills will
be demonstrated, including how to gather edible and medicinal plants, how to
tan hides, trap fish, to make twine and baskets, as well as make a dugout
canoe. A Mineralogical Display will be presented by the Lakeland Gem Club
Ltd.; other participants include The Northwoods Wildlife Center; the North
Lakeland Discovery Center; Raptor Education Group, Inc.; Trees for Tomorrow;
Wausau Prospectors Club; and Wisconsin Trappers Association.
– Klondike Days Entertainment this year:
Art Stevenson & High Water (a four-piece bluegrass band from the heart of
Wisconsin), and Tuck Pence (an energetic one-man act) will perform
at the
Bluegrass Festival Saturday night, at Eagle Waters Resort. Also during the
day at the North Food Tent at the Klondike Days grounds.
And if all this activity makes you hungry?
When Klondike Days’ visitors need a nosh, Northwoods-style foods include
Buffalo burgers; regular burgers; huge Paul Bunyan brownies; hot drinks,
soda and other snacks will be available at several locations.
“Klondike Days was developed to encourage families to enjoy the Northwoods
in February,” says Schilling. “We want to continue our quest to bring joy,
fun, and education to those thousands of families who come to Klondike Days
– and that means even better and more meaningful family events in a warm,
affordable, and constantly upgraded and comfortable setting.”
“By the way,” she adds, “The festival is named ‘Trig’s Klondike Days’ due to
sponsorship from the earliest years by Trig’s food stores in Eagle River,
Rhinelander, Minocqua and Wausau.”
Schilling gives special credit to the many sponsoring organizations and
volunteers who make Trig¹s Klondike Days happen. “We draw competitors,
participants, and visitors from all over the world,” she says, “there’s
truly something for every member of the family.”
Trig¹s Annual Klondike Days is always held the third weekend in February
each year, at Northland Pines High School, Northland Pines Middle School,
and the grounds and wooded area of the Rocking W Ranch just north of the
schools. A modest daily fee admits people to all the Klondike Days
activities. And free sleigh rides transport participants to different
Klondike locations.
“Klondike Days has been called “the most multifaceted winter festival in the
state, by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism,” adds Eagle River Chamber
Executive Director, Connie Heeg.
“And, if that’s not enough,” Heeg smiles, “visitors and locals alike can
simply enjoy our pure northwoods air, miles of snowmobile trails, superb ice
fishing, cross country skiing, lots of helpful local people, and
accommodations of every type in Eagle River.
Eagle River, in northeastern Wisconsin, is about 80 miles northeast of
Wausau, 241 miles north of Milwaukee; 327 miles north of Chicago; and 239
miles northeast of the Twin Cities.
For more information about Trig’s Klondike Days, schedules, and venues,
visit the Klondike Days website:
www.klondikedays.org;
; or contact Christine
Schilling, Executive Director, 715-477-2810; e-mail:
info@klondikedays.org
For more information about Eagle River in general: Eagle River Chamber of
Commerce & Visitors Center: 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail:
info@eagleriver.org; web: www.eagleriver.org
—–
A number of Eagle River lodgings are offering special packages just for
Klondike Days:
– WILD EAGLE LODGE (www.WildEagleLodge(dot)com); Klondike Days Family
Package (Valid February 18th thru February 24, 2010) includes: 2 nights
lodging (additional nights at a reduced rate);
1-day pass to Klondike Days
per person
; 1 game of bowling per person (shoe rental included)
; and
9-inch cheesecake. Family Package is $95 per person plus tax (2 Adults and
2-3 children)
; Couples Package is $159 per adult plus tax (minimum 2 people
in room); and, if one day at Klondike Days is not enough, Wild Eagle Lodge
will get you tickets for a second day of fun.
– EAGLE RIVER’S BEST WESTERN DERBY INN (www.DerbyInn(dot)com) Klondike Days
2010 Package includes: Stay two (2) nights for $199.90, taxes included, in
a double deluxe room with microwave and fridge; Receive one (1) free large
Scoobie’s Pizza and (1) free two Liter bottle of soda; call in advance and
mention this news item.
– EAGLE WATERS RESORT (www.EagleWaters(dot)com), “Proud Sponsor and Host to
The
Klondike Days Blue Grass Festival On Saturday Night,” offers the
following Klondike Days 2010 Lodging Special (valid February 19 and 20,
2010): Two nights in a one or two bedroom lakeside lodge unit (Two to six
guests, depending upon unit availability); Sunday Champagne Brunch for Two
(in the Eagle Waters Restaurant); one complimentary rail cocktail
(each),
with dinner for two on Friday or Saturday evening at the Eagle Waters
Bar/Lounge); Use of resort amenities (Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Trading Post
with gift shop, internet library
(wifi), sauna, fitness room, game room and
indoor pool nearby at Lake Forest for small fee.
Package for one bedroom lodge unit, $254 (Regularly $368); add additional
nights for $99. Two bedroom lodge unit, $314 (Regularly $534); add
additional nights for $129. Lodge units are 1,000 to 1,500 sq. ft., full
kitchen with living area, dishwasher, washer dryer, gas fireplace,
satellite, flat screen TV in living area and one in each bedroom, along
with a beautiful lake view.
– EAGLE RIVER’S CHANTICLEER INN’S (www.ChanticleerInn(dot)com) Klondike
Days 2010 Package includes: 2 nights lodging in motel, “Welcome” cocktail,
Prime Rib Dinner (Saturday); Only $107.95 per person + tax & tip; additional
nights only $69.00 per room + tax.
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For more information about this news release, OUTSTANDING photos; features,
or media visits: Naomi K. Shapiro, Creative Brilliance; phone 608-827-6483;
800-975-5474 (media only);
e-mail: cre8vads@cheqnet.net
