Okoboji welcomes the cold and snow for winter games

Not everyone in the state is wishing for temperatures in the 70s and no snow. Thousands of people are converging on the Iowa Great Lakes for the 29th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games. Warm temperatures in past years have melted some of the fun, but Nicki Nicholas of the Iowa Great Lakes Chamber says dozens of activities are going on today on West Lake Okoboji, and she says they’re not disappointed to see cooler temperatures. She says they’re especially excited because of the snow. She say they have a softball tournament, snowmobiling, and a track out on the lake ice for four-wheelers and motorcycles. Nicholas them in other events include broomball, flag football, the “Freeze Your Fanny” bike ride, kids kite fly, hockey scrimmage, ice bowling and mini golf. You can even jump into the chilly waters. She says they challenge everyone to hit the hot tub, and then take the polar bear plunge into the chili water. The Okoboji Under Water Search and Rescue team will be on hand and she says they’ll be putting on a demo where they save someone who has fallen through the ice. For those who don’t like to play out in the cold, there’s an event called the Chocolate Classic going on at the Lakes Art Center Saturday afternoon. Nicholas says professional and amateur bakers and chefs will be bringing their chocolate treats for about 700 people to taste. The Winter Games Extravaganza on Saturday night at Arnolds Park draws the largest crowds. They light a bonfire of donated Christmas trees and she says the “flames reach amazing heights in the air”. They also have fireworks over the ice. The events all wind down around 5 P.M. Sunday just in time for the Super Bowl. For a complete list of activities at the Winter Games activities you can log on to–www.okoboji.com