Grand rising, West Michigan. To all you Lions fans out there I feel your pain. Why not add some polar vortex temps and winter storm warnings to make it sting a little bit more this week 🥶 

In today’s Lakeshore Current:

• GH Winterfest ❄️ 

• Finn’s Sells 🥩 

• Bonfires & Brews 🔥 🍺 

Let’s dive in

— Courtland Stansberry

THE DIGEST

Winterfest Is Back!

The much-anticipated cardboard sled race is set to return this weekend as part of Grand Haven's annual Winterfest! Spectators can look forward to watching imaginative cardboard creations zoom down the local ski hill, racing to see which one will be the first to crash into the hay barrels waiting below. The excitement kicks off at 11 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, at Mulligan’s Hollow, featuring three heats across various age groups. Judges will evaluate the entries based on four categories: style, detail, spirit, and speed. Winterfest will illuminate the Lakeshore beach town from Thursday, January 23, to Sunday, January 26, offering a variety of festivities. Participants can showcase their skills in slopestyle, snow angel making, and the Freeze 4 All snow volleyball tournament. Visitors can also stroll through downtown to enjoy bonfire pits and beer tents located in the Harborfront Parking Lot behind Odd Side Ales, or they can stay cozy while exploring indoor sidewalk sales from 25 shops within the first three blocks of Washington. More info on all the events going on here.

Bonfires & Brews

Winter in Michigan, with its snow-covered trees and icy lakes, comes alive thanks to the spirited Michiganders who embrace the chill. Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park is celebrating this season with a new weekend series, Bonfires & Brews, promoting the art of tailgating year-round.

Running through February 22, bonfire nights will take place every Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m., inviting all ages to enjoy the cozy atmosphere under string lights in the forested garden. On January 24, DJ Cliffnasty will add musical flair to the festivities. Guests 21 and older can savor craft beers, wines, and ciders, while the Snowshoe Cafe offers snacks, s’mores, and hot dogs. Enjoy ice skating on their natural ice rink and illuminated trail, as well as night snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, all dependent on the weather.

Lake Michigan Steaming

The frigid temperatures sweeping across Traverse City, Michigan, are creating a captivating spectacle on Grand Traverse Bay, situated on Lake Michigan. The stark contrast between the relatively warm waters of the lake, which sit at around 37 degrees, and the Arctic air hovering near zero is leading to a mesmerizing display of steam rising from the water’s surface. This significant 37-degree difference allows the liquid water to readily transform into water vapor, resulting in a striking visual effect. Despite the recent cold snap, water temperatures throughout the Great Lakes region remain in the low 40s, as highlighted by current surface water temperature data from NOAA. This time of year, with cold air above and warmer water below, also brings the potential for stunning weather phenomena, including the elevated likelihood of waterspouts in the coming days. If you find yourself near the Great Lakes during this cold wave, take a moment to slow down and appreciate the rare and beautiful winter scene unfolding before you.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Spring Lake Chophouse Sold To Restaurant Group

Finn’s Chophouse & Speakeasy in Spring Lake, MI, is being sold to the Harris Group, known for owning Dockers Fish House and Carlisle’s Restaurant. Owners Finn Treece and Roxy Spear announced the decision on Facebook, citing health reasons as a factor. Their last day at the restaurant will be February 1. They expressed gratitude for their staff and community support, assuring patrons that while a new menu and branding will be introduced, the restaurant's 1920s atmosphere will remain. The couple invites locals to visit before their departure and looks forward to the Harris Group’s future plans for the venue.

Meijer Gardens Nomination

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park aims to win the USA Today Readers’ Choice award for Best Sculpture Park for the third consecutive year. Spanning 158 acres, the park features an outdoor amphitheater and Michigan's largest tropical conservatory. Meijer Gardens President and CEO Charles Burke encourages residents to vote daily online to support their nomination. Among 20 finalists, Meijer Gardens is the only Michigan park listed. Voting ends February 17, 2025, and can be done daily at 10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-sculpture-park-2025.

SPONSORED BY SIMULATOR CONSULTANTS

Looking to improve your golf game or hosting an event?

Based in Grand Haven, Michigan, Simulator Consultants is a locally owned and operated, customer-focused company that provides high-quality golf simulator installations and mobile event rentals. Our installations cover commercial and residential settings, simulator equipment sales, custom designing, and consulting services to accommodate virtually all spaces. Additionally, Simulator Consultants offers mobile golf simulator rentals for a wide range of events, including parties, weddings, corporate events, marketing events, trade shows, expos, and other gatherings both big and small. We take great pride in the personalized experience our team provides to each and every customer.

WHAT’S HAPPENIN

MUSKEGON

Thursday - Wonderland Distillery - Trivia Night 7pm

Muskegon Museum of Art - Happy Hour and Open Art Studio 4:30-7pm

Friday - Lotus Room - Dueling Pianos 8pm

Frauenthal Center - Mozart & Beethoven 7:30pm

Bonfire & Brews Night at Muskegon Luge 5-8pm

Saturday - Winter Farmers Market 9am-2pm

Pigeon Hill - Adult Jigsaw Competition 12pm

Muskegon Museum of Art - Super Saturday 11am-2pm

Trinity Health Arena - Muskegon Lumberjacks Hockey 6pm

Unruly Brewing Company - Adult Prom 6-11:30pm

Bonfire & Brews Night at Muskegon Luge 5-8pm

Sunday - Pigeon Hill - Euchre Sundays 2pm

Frauenthal Center - Free Movie Sundays - Little Mermaid 3pm

Monday - Pigeon Hill - Holiday Trivia Night 7pm

GRAND HAVEN

Thursday- Mulligan’s Hollow - Glowbowl 4-8pm

Friday- Grand Haven Indoor Sidewalk Sales 10am-6pm

Mulligan’s Hollow - Slopestyle Competition 5:30pm

White Pines M.S. - Cardboard Sled Build 5-8pm

Saturday- YMCA - KIDS’ DAY 12-3pm

Mulligan’s Hollow - Cardboard Sled Race 10am

Grand Haven Indoor Sidewalk Sales 10am-6pm

Harborfront Parking Lot - Bonfire Bash 3-10pm

Harborfront Parking Lot - Freeze 4 All Snow Volleyball 4pm

Odd Side - Winterfest Luau 8pm

Grand Armory Live Music

Sunday - Kirby - Flannels and Flapjacks – Pancake Breakfast 9am-12pm

Grand Armory - Sunday Euchre 2pm

Monday - Odd side - Pub Trivia Night

HOLLAND

Thursday - Curragh Irish Pub - Trivia Night 8pm

Park Theatre - An ALL NIGHT R&B AFFAIR 8pm

Friday - Holland Civic Center Place - Lakeshore Home Building and Remodeling Show 10-6pm

Saturday - Holland Farmers Market 9am-1pm

Holland Civic Center Place - Lakeshore Home Building and Remodeling Show 10-6pm

Sunday - New Holland Brewing - Trivia Night 6pm

Monday - Curragh Irish Pub - Trivia Night 8pm

WEATHER

Thursday

26 🌡️ 15 | 🌨️ |

Friday

23 🌡️ 21 | 🌨️ |

Saturday

35🌡️ 23 | ⛅️ |

Sunday

30 🌡️ 25 | ☁️ |

Monday

34 🌡️ 28 | ☁️ |

LIVE MUSIC

Thursday

Grand Armory I Gabrial James I 6:30pm

Sandy Point I Wally & Guest I 6pm

Friday

Grand Armory I The Smokin' Dobroleles I 6:30pm

Itty Bitty Bar I Off The Ledge I 9pm

Wicks Park Bar & Grille I J.P. Peters I 7pm

Saturday

Grand Armory I Ghosts on Maple I 6:30pm

Oddside I Dank Hill I 8pm

Itty Bitty Bar I Off The Ledge I 9pm

Wicks Park Bar & Grille I Local Communters I 7pm

Sunday

Odd side Ales I Scott Pellegrom I 5pm

Sandy Point I Gabrial James I 5pm

SPORTS

Sunday - NFL Playoffs

THANKS!

Thanks for reading Lakeshore Current today. If you found something useful, please share with someone who is participating in the cardboard sled race

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here

Want to get your business in Lakeshore Current? Reply to this email

Did I miss something? Let me know at [email protected]