Some winter for Grayslake's Winterfest? That's no problem this year

In two of the years since the Grayslake Winterfest began, Frosty the Snowman would have melted if he'd attended.

The inaugural 2002 event featured unseasonably warm weather that melted a plan for cartoon characters to be carved from snow.

Three years later, it was so warm -- temperatures reached the 50-degree mark -- the Siberian huskies present for entertainment became lethargic.

No such weather problems exist today.

Bolstered by temperatures in the 30s and nearly a foot of snow, the Alaskan malamutes featured at Grayslake Winterfest should be quite frisky when the event kicks off at 9 a.m. today.

As luck would have it, this week's pounding of snow almost proved to be too much of a good thing for the Grayslake Chamber of Commerce event.

"It was snowing so hard (this week), I was wondering how we'd get the tent up," said chamber Executive Director Karen Christian-Smith.

Winterfest will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Center Street in downtown Grayslake, west of Route 83. Along with the Alaskan malamutes, highlights include ice sculptures, the fourth annual chili contest, hay wagon rides and a winter farmers market.

At least 35 participants, including some from Indiana and Wisconsin, have registered for the chili competition, organizers said. Public tasting and "people's choice" voting runs from 12:15 to 1:30 p.m., with an awards ceremony at 2 p.m.

Contestants are required to prepare a minimum of two gallons of chili. Winterfest committee members will provide the spoons and cups for sampling.

Organizers have asked the chili contestants to bring homemade salsa with them for sampling.

Winterfest might include a salsa contest next year if there is enough interest.