Okoboji Winter Games begin today

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OKOBOJI, Iowa — The 33rd annual University of Okoboji Winter Games are set for this weekend, with events actually getting under way today. A pre-games party, “Tiki in the Tent,” is set for 5 p.m. today at Parks Marina in Okoboji. A free showing of the movie “La Bamba,” with a question-and-answer session with Connie Valens, sister of the late Ritchie Valens, will be at 7 p.m. today at Pearson Lakes Art Center.

Throughout the weekend, there will be a Ritchie Valens memorabilia exhibit at Pearson Lakes Art Center and a Boats on Ice Boat Show at Parks Marina. Musical entertainment is also planned at establishments throughout the Iowa Great Lakes Area.

The rest of the weekend’s schedule is as follows:

Friday

6 to 10 a.m. — “Get Up & Go Show” kick-off breakfast, Arnolds Park

8 a.m — Sixth annual Pieceful Spirits quilting retreat, Camp Foster

9 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Community blood drive, Lakes Regional Hospital, Spirit Lake

11:30 a.m. — Edna Wattier Memorial Bridge Tournament, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Milford

3 p.m. to 2 a.m. — Iowa Craft Beer Tent, Roof Garden, Arnolds Park

5 to 7 p.m. — Chili Cook Off & Dessert Bar, Expo Building, Spirit Lake (free shuttle service from Great Lakes Mall)

6:30 p.m.— Creative Spirits Painting, Boji Celebrates, Spirit Lake

7:30 p.m. — Robby Vee Live, IRRMA Winter Concert, Arrowwood Resort, Okoboji

Saturday

8 to 11 a.m. — Pancake & sausage breakfast, Okoboji Middle School, Arnolds Park

8 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Omelet brunch, Arnolds Park Pavilion

8 a.m. — Softball tournament, Central Emporium, Arnolds Park; Broomball Tournament, Smith’s Bay, Okoboji; Flag Football, Smith’s Bay, Okoboji; Crossfit Throwdown, Bedell Family YMCA, Spirit Lake

8:30 a.m. — Cribbage classic tournament, Okoboji Middle School, Arnolds Park

9 a.m. to 2 a.m. — Iowa Craft Beer Tent, Roof Garden, Arnolds Park

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Co-ed indoor volleyball, Spirit Lake Middle & High School gyms

9 a.m. to noon — Pinochle & 500 tournaments, Senior Center, Spirit Lake

9:30 a.m. — Guns ‘n Hoses boot hockey tournament & youth hockey tournaments, Parks Marina, Okoboji; chess tournament, Arnolds Park City Hall, U.S. 71

10 a.m. to 2 p.m — Youth snowmobile demos, Polaris, Spirit Lake

10 a.m. — Snowball Drop, Olde Town, Hill Avenue & Lake St in Spirit Lake; Freeze Your Fanny bike ride, Okoboji Expedition Company, U.S. 71

10 a.m. to noon — “Cooking with Donna,” innkeeper at Okoboji Country Inn, demonstration & tasting at Annabelle’s Tea Room, Okoboji

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — S’mores at Mau Marine, Okoboji

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Trap shoot, Dickinson County Isaac Walton League, 190th Street east on Landfill Road

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Winter crafts & snow activities and Soup Fest, Dickinson County Nature Center, Okoboji

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Dickinson County Snowhawks Fun Run, meet at Polaris in Spirit Lake

11 a.m. — Texas Hold ’Em tournament, Village West Resort; sixth annual People Project (park at Peace Corner (Hwy 86 & 9), bus to Iowa Lakeside Lab & form of a snowy owl takes shape at noon & is aerially photographed

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Fourth annual Marshmallow Man Blaster Shootout, A Piece of Work, Spirit Lake; family snowshoe hikes with free rentals, Dickinson County Nature Center, Okoboji; family team bowling, Corner Lanes, Spirit Lake

11 a.m. to 6 p.m. — Family fun at Horseshoe Bend’s Tube Hill

Noon to 5 p.m. — Helicopter rides, Parks Marina, Okoboji

1 to 3 p.m. — Kids games, Parks Marina, Okoboji; ice skating and hot chocolate, Oak Hill Marina, Arnolds Park

1 to 4 p.m. — Sweet Classic & Shopping Galleria, Expo Building, Spirit Lake

1:30 p.m. — 5K/10K Road Race, Middle School, Spirit Lake

2 p.m. — Farkle tournament, Annabelle’s Tea Room, Okoboji

2 p.m. — Okoboji Summer Theatre 2013 season announcement, Hedberg Theatre, Arnolds Park

2 to 4 p.m. — Bingo, Pavilion, Arnolds Park

3 p.m. — Cookie Eating Contest Sweet Classic, Dickinson County Expo Building; Polar Plunge, State Pier, Arnolds Park

3 to 7 p.m. — Adult team bowling tournament, Corner Lanes, Spirit Lake

4 p.m. — Youth snowmobile raffle drawing, Polaris, Spirit Lake

4:30 to 6:30 p.m. — Tailgate dinner, Pavilion, Arnolds Park

5 p.m. — Outrageous Outerwear Contest, Tiki Tent, Parks Marina, Okoboji

6:30 p.m. Burning of the Greens and fireworks, Preservation Plaza, Arnolds Park

Sunday

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Dickinson County Snowhawks Snowmobile Radar Run, Parks Marina, Okoboji

1:30 p.m. — Talent Follies, Pearson Lakes Art Center, Okoboji

2 to 5 p.m. — Snowball Dance with music by Shirley’s Big Band Music, Senior Building, Zenith Ave, Spirit Lake

Tags: news, iowa, okoboji