A series of events designed to get Iowans off of their warm couches and into the crisp, cold air kicks off in Council Bluffs this weekend. The western Iowa town’s month-long “Winterfest” starts with an ice fishing derby which includes a 25-thousand dollar prize fish & a new fishing boat.Diane Hestness is a spokeswoman for the Council Bluffs Convention & Visitors Bureau. She says the next several weekends will be filled with outdoor events ranging from “frozen golf” tournaments to snow softball games. Hestness says there’s also an ice sculpting competition for professionals and amateurs.Hestness says there is a bit of fear that there won’t be much winter in Winterfest, but it won’t be a tragedy if no new snow falls.Other events include downhill ski races and a snowboarding competition. For more information, call 877-330-9638.
