Big Lake Winterfest is this weekend

BIG LAKE — The Big Lake Winterfest is in a transition year after a longtime sister event, after changes to the start of the Iron Dog snowmachine race this year.

This year’s event features a two-day fishing derby, a beer garden tent, and live music by local band “Resident,” according to Big Lake Chamber of Commerce president Ina Mueller, one of the event’s organizers.

Instead of occurring as part of Iron Dog, Winterfest is scheduled this year to coincide with the two-day Big Lake ice fishing derby, Mueller said.

In reality, the audiences for the Iron Dog ceremonial start and the Winterfest were very different, Mueller added.

“We (organizers) had already been discussing the interaction between the Iron Dog and Winterfest,” she said. “We realized that Winterfest had very little interaction with Iron Dog.”

Organized in conjunction with Big Lake Power Sports and Sportsman Warehouse, the event kicks off Saturday morning with the fishing derby. The band features classic rock covers and roll standards, and plays in the beer tent from 5 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Mueller said.

Fishing derby prize winners will be announced at 3 p.m., Sunday.

For more information, visit biglakewinterfest.com, or biglakechamber.org.