Tip-Up Town USA

Michigan's longest-running and largest winter festival, on the ice since 1951. Named by nationwide contest after the tip-up, the flag device that springs up when a fish takes the bait, it started as businesspeople trying to liven up a 95-inch snow winter - they plowed roads across the frozen lake to make streets for a temporary town and elected it a mayor. Seventy-five years later there's still an ice fishing contest, plus snowmobile drag racing, a parade, an ice slide, sled dog pulls, fireworks, and a Polar Bear Dip into Michigan's largest inland lake.

Dates

Last two weekends of January

Town

Houghton Lake, Michigan

Venue

South DNR Boat Launch, 2439 Town Line Rd (off M-55), Houghton Lake, MI 48629

Price

Paid (event button; kids free)

Type

Winter / Quirky