SnowsFest 2026 Was a Record-Breaking Success
From the bottom of our hearts...
With Snowsfest 2026 officially in the rearview mirror, our hearts are full of gratitude for the incredible community that makes this winter tradition possible year after year!
Thank you to every single person who wore a button and offered a helping hand with planning, setup, operations, and takedown. Events of this magnitude simply don’t happen without passionate, dedicated people behind the scenes. And to our generous sponsors - your continued support allows us to transform our community into a true winter wonderland weekend. We are so grateful for your partnership!
Most of all, we owe our biggest thanks to YOU, our Chamber members! You pour your time, energy, and heart into the Les Cheneaux community. Hearing that it was a much-needed busy weekend with strong sales is exactly why we do this!
With every Snowsfest and Chamber event, we keep two goals front and center:
1) Create a fun, memorable experience for residents and visitors
2) Provide a meaningful boost for our businesses during one of the slowest seasons of the year
While we love seeing friends and families enjoying the festivities, nothing makes us happier than seeing Les Cheneaux businesses thriving. Thank you for being the backbone of this community, and know that we are committed to supporting you not just during Snowsfest, but all year long.
Keep going, LCI! Before you know it, summer will be here!
Thank you!
To the Snowsfest Committee for helping with planning, details, setup, operations and takedown of every event!
To Ritchie's Ace Hardware, Wilderness Treasures, and Islands Wildlife for use of their locations, leadership, and prizes for the Pike & Perch Derby
To Northwoods Christian Camp for providing a free XC skiing weekend for all to enjoy!
To the Les Cheneaux Community Library for hosting their annual Book Sale!
To Pastor Tim Bashore of Pickford Global Methodist Church for offering a blessing for our Snowman!
To Les Cheneaux Community Schools Art & Shop classes for creating a wonderful Snowman to burn!
To Les Cheneaux Community Schools students for singing the National Anthem at the Blessing & Burning of the Snowman!
To Les Cheneaux Culinary School & Restaurant for serving up a delicious Valentine's dinner!
To Woods & Waters and Little Traverse Conservancy for sponsoring the lantern-lit hike on Friday night!
To Amy Salter and Snow's Bar & Grill for hosting the Stein Hoisting!
To the Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club and their volunteers for hosting the Pancake Breakfast, offering hay rides on their groomer, and presenting the Vintage & Antique Snowmobile Show!
To Leese Livestock for providing bales of hay for the Kitty Kat races and groomer rides!
To Mackinac County Road Commission for supplying cones and barriers to ensure a SAFE Snowsfest!
To the Clark Township Fire & EMS Department for allowing use of their space for the Chili Cook-Off and use of their equipment and volunteers for Sunday's Ice Rescue Demo and Polar Plunge!
To Les Cheneaux Community Schools Youth Advisory Council, National Honor Society, and Student Council for helping set up, run, and take down Kids Games!
To Autore Excavating, Tassier Boat Works, Waterlawn Cottages, Les Cheneaux Distillery and I-Tech Pro for plowing the track and manning the Kitty Kat Snowmobile Races!
To Peek-A-Boo Trail and volunteers for creating a beautiful space for residents and visitors to enjoy!
To Applecore General Store and friends for supplying dog treats every year for the Dog Walk!
To Islander Bar and Sarah Webber-Duncan for hosting the Frosty 5K!
To Parker's Ace Hardware for sponsoring the Polar Plunge changing tent!
To Custom Cedar Sauna Co. for bringing a sauna to the Polar Plunge for participants to warm up in!
To our food trucks/vendors who offered delicious food all day Saturday and Sunday - Curbside Cravings and Glass Grapes Tanghulu!
To our Hot Cocoa Crawl Locations: Les Cheneaux Coffee Roasters, Little Buoy Bakery, Hessel School House, Les Cheneaux Historical Association, Les Cheneaux Distillers, Les Cheneaux Community Library, Applecore General Store, and Snow's Bar & Grill!
To our Fun Run Locations: Islander Bar, Raber Bay Bar, Wilderness Treasures, Little Buoy Bakery, Kewadin Casino - Hessel, LCI Snowmobile Club, Snow's Bar & Grill, Cattail's Cove, Les Cheneaux Distillers, Ang-Gio's Restaurant, and The Tipper Room!
To our Pub Shuffle Locations: Snow's Bar & Grill, Cattails Cove, The Islander Bar, Les Cheneaux Distillers, and Kewadin Casino - Hessel!
To our Window Decorating Locations: Applecore General Store, Pickle Point, Taylor Lumber, Les Cheneaux Distillers, EZ Mart, Hessel School House, Cedar Cove Assisted Living, Soo Co-Op, and U.P. State Credit Union!
To our Snow Sculpture Locations: EZ Mart, First National Bank of St. Ignace, Cedarville Marine, Cedarville Hotel, and Pickle Point!
While Snowsfest button sales are a fundraiser for the Chamber, many events are fundraisers for Community organizations such as:
Pancake Breakfast supporting the Les Cheneaux Snowmobile Club, who keep our trails groomed for members and visitors all winter long
Polar Plunge supporting the Clark Township Fire Department who support our community in numerous ways
Frosty 5k supporting the Islanders Cross Country and Track programs
THANK YOU to everyone who got out, wore a button, and spent their hard-earned dollars in our community throughout Snowsfest weekend! Those dollars go right back into the businesses and organizations that make our LCI community amazing. The support of the community is what makes all this possible!
