Top: The 2nd place snow sculpture at this year’s Yaak Winter Festival that was built by Kristy and Melany Allen.
Bottom: The Upper Yaak Fire Department’s Outhouse Race team. Photos courtesy of Gwen Allen.
By McKenzie
Williams
The Yaak Winter Festival was held from Feb. 15 through 17 at the Yaak River Tavern, marking the event’s fifth year.
Activities started on Friday, Feb. 15 with a snow sculpting competition. The competitors and spectators alike then got a chance to warm up with a spaghetti and meatball dinner held on Friday evening.
On Saturday, snow sculpting continued, and the fun Loppet cross country ski race began at 11 a.m. The men’s and overall winner was Jarratt Price. The kids’ division winner was Josiah Moore, and the women’s division winner was Kenlyn Rijken.
Saturday evening ended with the Winter Festival Pageant and live music. This year’s Winter Festival Queen was Sandy Miller, and the runner up was Sharon Shelton.
On Sunday, the festival began with the snow sculpting awards. The winning sculpture was built by Elizabeth Vick and a very close 2nd place was awarded to Kristy and Melany Allen.
The highlight and final event was the annual Yaak River Tavern outhouse races.
Gwen Allen, owner of Yaak River Tavern said this was probably the biggest attendance for Outhouse Races. There were six teams.
The outhouse race winning team was Pimp Daddy who had an outhouse built by Montana Mud Slingers. The team included Richard Shattuck, Jason Colclough and Helen Carpenter.
Other participating teams included Booze ‘N Bait, Upper Yaak Fire Department, and three teams from the Yaak River Tavern.
If you missed the Yaak Winter Festival, don’t worry, the Yaak River Tavern is already planning their Sasquatch Festival which will be held on June 20 and 21. Sista Otis will be the weekend’s featured artist. They will also host an Independence Day Celebration and Yaak River Fest.
For more information and upcoming events visit the Yaak River Tavern’s Facebook page or call 295-4706.