Shivaree relocated due to poor ice conditions
The Black Lake Sturgeon Shivaree, which is scheduled for February 13 – 15, has been moved to a new location due to poor ice conditions. The event was originally to be held on the east side of Black Lake but, due to an ice condition that is termed ?layering?, where there is a layer of ice over a layer of slush and another layer of ice, event coordinators were forced to move the festival.
The new location will be north of Onaway on M-211 near the airport and all events will continue as scheduled. Organizers have had bad luck in the past with weather conditions being less than ideal. Usually, in such a situation, the event had to be cancelled altogether. This may be the first time the event will be rescheduled to be held on land. Area firefighters will be creating an ice rink in order to accommodate the motorcycle and snowmobile races previously scheduled.
The torchlight cross-country ski and snowshoe safari will still be conducted in the 3-mile loop around Black Mountain beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 13. The festival, which has been conducted almost every winter since 1961, has drawn many winter enthusiasts from around the area.
Event organizers hope the switch will not discourage people from attending the over fifteen events scheduled, including ?Fear Factor?, a new event which involves participants performing strange, and possibly unappetizing, stunts to win money.