Ironically, last weekend's frigid weather forced the cancellation of Cloquet's planned Winterfest 2013 event in Pinehurst Park, since the outdoor temperatures never rose above the zero-degree mark. But planners for this weekend's Carlton Winterfest celebration remain undaunted as they prepare for three days of fun-filled events this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
After all, it would be too big an event to be missed - it's the 20th annual Winterfest celebration for this busy little town.
Friday will signal the start of the festivities, beginning with a spaghetti dinner at the Carlton VFW from 4-7 p.m., with proceeds to benefit the Human Development Center's Outreach Center in Cloquet. The Third Base Bar will host poker play beginning at 7 p.m., and popular area pianist Tom Cawcutt will perform at the Streetcar Kitchen and Pub from 8-10 p.m. On stage at the Carlton VFW will be live music by "Stranded" from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
The outdoor rink at Four Seasons Sports Complex will be open to the public for skating all day on Saturday, with concessions available. Cub Scout Pack 177 will sponsor a pancake breakfast from 8-11 a.m. at Carlton High School, and there will be sixth-grade boys basketball in the big gym from 8 a.m. to noon.
Carlton High School will also be the site for the Carlton Public Library's "Super" Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as the Girl Scout Cookie Sale during the same hours.
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The Jay Cooke Park Nature Station will be on hand at the high school from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as will the Zoomobile, sponsored by Carlton Community Education.
The midday center of attention will turn to the 18th Annual Chili Cook-off, sponsored by the Carlton Area Lion's Club and Jim & Jo's Katering. There will be both adult and youth divisions once again this year, and registration begins at 10:30 a.m. The public can get in on a taste testing of the entries once the contest is completed.
The ice of Chub Lake will begin to heat up as the Cloquet-Esko-Carlton Rotary Hook & Slice on Ice Golf Classic gets under way at 9 a.m. with registration for the morning round, with a shotgun start scheduled for 10 a.m. Registration for the afternoon round is at noon for the 1 p.m. shotgun start.
The Third Base Bar will provide live music by "The Gunshow" from noon to 3 p.m., and Fireman's Bingo will get under way at the small gym of Carlton High School at 7 p.m.
For your evening's listening entertainment, Tom Cawcutt will once again appear at the Streetcar from 8-10 p.m., "Stranded" will provide entertainment at the VFW from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., and "Scarce" will take center stage at Third Base from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
On Sunday, Feb. 10, local churches will hold services between 9 a.m. and noon.
The 29th Annual Speeds Women's Pool Tourney will begin at noon at the Carlton VFW, and there will be open skating indoors at the Four Seasons Sports Complex (no hockey) from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Concessions will be available.
