University of Okoboji Winter Games Features Cooking Demonstation & Tasting

(SANEPR.com) January 12, 2009 -- The dates for the 29th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games are set for January 23-25, 2009 - the last week-end in January. The Games will be centered in the Smith's Bay area in West Okoboji (weather permitting), with other events held throughout the Lakes Region. Local and regional teams will have the chance to participate on the ice in U of O Winter Games classics, such as Broomball, Softball and Hockey. New additions to this year's games will be an Opry-style concert at the SAMI Center, a tailgate at the Arnolds Park Pavilion, and a cooking demonstration and tasting, complete with a cookbook signing to be held in Annbelle's Tea Room at The Wash House.

On Saturday, January 24, 2009, from 10am to Noon, Innkeeper Donna Muilenburg from the Okoboji Country Inn will be giving a cooking demostration and tasting. The cooking will begin promptly at 10 am and Muilenburg will be featuring recipes from the new cookbook, just released from the Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Association, "Discover Iowa: Cooking with Wine, Meats, and other Iowa Products. Cookbook author, Amelia Painter, will be present to sign copies of this recipe-filled new cookbook.

Annabelle’s Tea Room is located inside The Wash House gift shop right in the heart of all the Winter Games activities.

The University of Okoboji Winter Games is the most anticipated annual winter festival in the Iowa Great Lakes area. Part of the mystique of the Winter Games lies in the very essence of the University of Okoboji, the mythical university centered in the Iowa Great Lakes. Herman Richter, owner of The Three Sons clothing store with his brother Emil in Milford, IA, was the co-founder of the University of Okoboji back in the 1970s. Its fame has spread throughout the world ever since.

Many exciting activities are slated for each year's extravaganza with events such as a broom ball tournament, bike rides, chili cook-off, talent shows, ice fishing for the kids, 5K & 10K Road Race & Walk, ice mini-golf, dog sled rides, tube day at Horseshoe Bend, snowball football & softball, a Christmas tree bonfire, and a big fireworks display on Saturday nights.

Many of the area's hospitality facilities close for the winter, but there are still plenty of lodging accommodations to be found. One that stands out is the newly opened Okoboji Country Inn, located next door to The Wash House gift shop -- www.okobojicountryinn.com -- right in the center of all the activity.

Below is an Event List for the 29th Annual University of Okoboji Winter Games -- January 23 – 25, 2009

Friday, January 23, 2009
9:00 a.m. Olde Town Spirit Lake Indoor Golf Tournament – Downtown Spirit Lake Businesses
10:00 a.m. Pieceful Spirits Quilt Guild Quilter’s Retreat – Camp Foster
11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Edna Wattier Memorial Bridge Party – Minervas
5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. RE/MAX Spirit Lake and the Okobojis Chili Cook-Off
Dessert Bar by Spirit of Harmony Chorus
– Dickinson County Expo Building
6:30 p.m. High School Basketball Games
Spirit Lake @ LeMars
Okoboji v. George-Little Rock
Harris-Lake Park v. WCLT
7:00 p.m. Damon Dotson & Karaoke – Okoboji Boat Works
7:30 p.m. Semi-Professional Broomball “Under the Lights” – Bedell Family YMCA
8:00 p.m. FREE Rock the Roof Concert Sponsored by Iowa Rock ‘N’ Roll Music Association Museum and Northwest
Bank, BB & the Bullfrogs and Robby Vee
– Dickinson County Expo Building
9:00 p.m. Fishheads – Captain’s Getaway
9:00 p.m. Warm Whiskey Band – Murphy’s
9:30 p.m. Tim Horsman – Ruebins
9:30 p.m. The Kelly Quinn Band – The Gardens
TBD Fork in the Road / Judd Hoos – The Ritz

Saturday, January 24, 2009
7:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Pancake & Sausage Breakfast – Okoboji Middle School
Sponsored by Milford Commercial Club/Milford Boy Scouts
8:00 a.m. *Broomball Tournament – Smith’s Bay
*Softball Tournament – Smith’s Bay
*Flag Football – Mau Marine
Olde Town Spirit Lake Indoor Golf Tournament – Downtown Spirit Lake Businesses
8:00 – 1:00 Okoboji Summer Theatre Omelet Brunch – Arnolds Park Pavilion
8:00 – 6:00 Boy Scouts Troop 152 Food Booth – Smith’s Bay
8:30 – 1:00 *University of Okoboji Winter Games Cribbage Classic 2009 – Okoboji
Middle School Gymnasium
9:00 – Noon Pinochle Tournament (Lunch available after the event) – Spirit Lake Senior Center
9:00 – Noon 500 Card Tournament (Lunch available after the event) – Spirit Lake Senior Center
10:00 - Noon Cooking Demonstration, Tasting & Cookbook Signing in Annabelle's Tea Room at The Wash House gift shop in West Okoboji on Hwy. 71
10:00 – 4:00 The Day the Music Died, Revisted – Iowa Rock ‘N’ Roll Music Association Museum
9:30 *University of Okoboji Chess Open – Arrowwood Resort
9:30 – 3:30 Boji Blizzard Mini and Mighty Mite Hockey Jamboree – Smith’s Bay
10:00 *Freeze Your Fanny Bike Ride – Okoboji Expedition Co.
10:00 – 11:30 Hot Chocolate & Goodies – Discovery House
10:00 – 11:30 Lakes Area Hockey Association Shoot Out – Smith’s Bay
10:00 – Noon Water Quality Open House – Iowa Lakeside Lab, Waitt Building
10:00 – 4:00 Special Winter Display – Maritime Museum
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
10:00 – 4:00 **Snowmobile Fun Run – Okoboji Boat Works
Fun Run Drawing between 5-6
10:30 Snowball Drop – Uptown Spirit Lake
Sponsored by Spirit Lake Mainsail
10:30 – 3:00 **Little Sioux OHV/ATV Ice Challenge – The Ritz
11:00 *University of Okoboji Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament – Village West Resort
11:00 – 1:00 Golf Ball Long Drive Contest – Smith’s Bay
11:00 – 3:00 Nature Center Soup Fest and Family Fun Programs Sponsored by the Conservation Foundation of
Dickinson County – Arnolds Park City Hall
11:00 – 6:00 Family Fun at the Tube Hill – Horseshoe Bend (User fee discounted, tube rentals available)
11:30 *Red Hat Luncheon Sponsored by Okoboji Tourism – The Inn At Okoboji
Noon *Powder Puff Broomball – Smith’s Bay
Noon – 2:00 Ice Bowling, Mini Golf & Wienie Toss Sponsored by Standard Distribution – Okoboji Boat Works
1:00 ArtsLIVE People Project – Iowa Lakeside Lab Dining Hall
1:00 – 3:00 *Chocolate/Sweet Classic Sponsored by Minervas – Arrowwood Resort, Wimbledon Event Hall
Girl Scout Cookie Sale
1:00 – 4:00 *Mah Jongg Tournament – Emerald Hills Golf Club
1:00 – 5:00 ACE – Okoboji Boat Works
1:30 *University of Okoboji Road Race 5K/10K – Spirit Lake Middle School
1:30 *Broomball Second Round
2:00 – 4:30 Bingo – Humane Society of NW Iowa – Arnolds Park Pavilion
2:00 Okoboji Summer Theatre 2009 Schedule – Okoboji Spirit Center
2:30 Okoboji Underwater Search & Rescue Demo – Railroad Trestle Bridge
3:00 Polar Bear Plunge – Railroad Trestle Bridge
4:00 ‘Boji Splash Children’s Beachwear Contest – Bridges Bay
5:00 – 6:30 University of Okoboji Phantoms Tailgate Sponsored by Northwest Bank – Arnolds Park Pavilion
6:00 – 10:00 Cartwright Brothers – Okoboji Boat Works
6:30 p.m. 2009 Winter Games Extravaganza – Preservation Plaza
National Guard Tribute—194th Field Artillery—Iowa Army Nat. Guard
Introduction of U of O Winter Games Cheerleaders
Awards Ceremony ** Burning of the Greens
Fireworks Display Sponsored in part by Liberty Bank, Alliant Energy, AmericInn, Ramada & Super 8
7:30 Semi-Professional Broomball “Under the Lights” – Bedell Family YMCA
8:00 Opry at the SAMI – Sami Bedell Center for the Performing Arts
9:00 Fishheads – Captain’s Getaway
9:00 Warm Whiskey Band – Murphy’s
9:30 Tim Horsman – Ruebins
9:30 The Kelly Quinn Band – The Gardens
TBD Fork in the Road / Judd Hoos – The Ritz

Sunday, January 25, 2009
9:00 a.m. *Broomball Tournament – Smith’s Bay
9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Waffles by Dad – Sponsored by the Lakes Area Senior Citizens – Spirit Lake Senior Center
11:00 & 2:00 *Snowshoe Hike for the Family Sponsored by the Conservation Board of Dickinson County (Weather
Permitting) – Horseshoe Bend
11:00 – 3:00 **Snowmobile Radar Run – Parks Marina/Barefoot Bar
11:00 – 6:00 Family Fun at the Tube Hill – Horseshoe Bend (User fee discounted, tube rentals available)
Noon *Broomball Championship – Smith’s Bay
Noon – 4:00 The Day the Music Died, Revisted – Iowa Rock ‘N’ Roll Music Association Museum
Noon – 4:00 Tour of Homes Poker Run
2:00 *YMCA Dodgeball Tournament – Bedell Family YMCA
2:00 *Winter Follies Talent Show – Pearson Lakes Art Center
Girl Scout Cookie Sale

*PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED, LIMITED AVAILABILITY
**Iowa DNR requires user permits for all non-resident snowmobiles and for ALL ATVs and dirt bikes. They are available for purchase online at www.iowadnr.com or anywhere hunting & fishing licenses are available.

Winter Games Winter Wear available at: ***The Chamber-Arnolds Park ***Winkleblacks-Spencer
***The Three Sons & Buy Rite-Milford ***Fareway & Hy-Vee-Spirit Lake ***Information Booth-Okoboji Boat Works

Information and maps available at the Chamber offices,
Arnolds Park, RIDES shuttle service available Friday 6 a.m. – 6 p.m., Saturday 7 a.m. – 6 p.m., for daytime pick-up call 800.358.5037. Friday and Saturday Nite Owl Shuttles 8 p.m. – 2 p.m. Snowmobile Rentals, Ice Skating (rentals available) and $5 Ice Fishing in the “World’s Largest Fish House” All day Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Okoboji Boat Works.

Check local media for detailed information. Events and locations subject to change.
For updated and further information on events and activities, contact the Iowa Great Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce at the Okoboji Spirit Center,
243 West Broadway, P.O. Box 9, Arnolds Park, IA 51331
Phone 800.839.9987 or locally 712.332.2107

For room reservations at the Okoboji County Inn go to www.okobojicountyinn.com or call (712) 332-2358 for more information.

Registration for many of the sporting events available online at www.AllSportCentral.com