Lake Villa to holds first ever Winterfest

If the weather pros are right, temperatures could hit 50 degrees this weekend.

You might not think that would be good news for the planners of Lake Villa Township's first-ever Winterfest, but organizers are jazzed.

"That's going to be perfect weather for Winterfest," says Dan Venturi. The Lake Villa Township Supervisor said the bitter cold we've endured for the past month could have made things unpleasant. "We've got plenty of packed snow out there and we've been making more with our snow-making machines. It will be great."

Sponsored by Lake Villa Township, the event will feature snow sculpting, daddy/dog sled races, sledding, broom ball, food, beverages and ice bowling.

Ice bowling?

"That's an event where we set up balloons on the sled hill and folks slide down and try to hit them," Venturi said. "It should be fun and it's harder than it looks."

The fun happens Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. at Caboose Park, 37908 N. Fairfield Road in Lake Villa. Admission is one nonperishable food item for the Lake Villa Township Food Pantry. For more information, call the township office at (847) 356-2116.