Freeze Your Bass Off will return Saturday, March 14, at Runkle Lake Park complex in Crystal Falls, with festivities to kick off at 11 a.m.

“The event is a nod to our long-running Bass Festival that has taken place every July for more than 60 years in Crystal Falls,” club member Jake Nurmi said. “Winter can be long and cold, so what better way to break up the winter months than by getting outside with great company and great food — all for an excellent cause.”

“Yooper Curling” will be a highlight of the day. This event will use makeshift “stones” made with 30-can boxes of beer set up with handles that will be slid across the ice toward a bull’s eye target. Two-person team will play on two courts so four teams can play at the same time, Nurmi posted on the club’s Facebook page.

The event replaces a planned co-ed softball tournament that Nurmi said had to be called off due to scheduling conflicts. More details on the Yooper Curling competition and how to enter will be posted on the club’s Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/crystalfallslions/.

Freeze Your Bass Off will feature “Yooper Curling,” a competition that uses makeshift “stones” made with 30-can boxes of beer set up with handles that will be slid across the ice toward a bull's eye target. (Courtesy photo)

The Lions also plan to have a pig roast that day. The meal will be served with sides such as cole slaw, potato salad and beans. Members will serve up their famous french fries as well.

A variety of beverages will be available, including beer and wine, along with hot chocolate and coffee to warm up.

In addition to all-day sledding on the hill, organizers have a variety of activities slated for children, including eco-friendly snow painting and snowflake decorating.

“We hope to have our Lions Club kite kits available for the kids to fly them over the lake,” Nurmi said, adding, “Kites are big for the Lions — we just need a little wind.”

A couple of bonfires will be going for warming, with firewood supplied by Shamco Inc.

The club will also sell 50-50 raffle tickets throughout the day.

A DJ will provide music that can be heard across the complex.

Nurmi noted that all the action will take place near the lakefront.

The CF Lions Club hopes to grow the event to rival the annual Bass Festival. “We want to draw people from out of the area and eventually extend it to a full weekend of activities,” he said.

“This is our first year, so we are going to see how it plays out. If we have a lot of interest, we have a lot of ideas for next year,” Nurmi said. “We are really excited to bring back this event.”

One goal for next year is to add an ice fishing tournament. Nurmi noted the club receives a great deal of support from Superior Sport and Feed.

“It was just too much for our first launch,” he said.

Planning for Freeze Your Bass Off also dusted off some community history.

The first event by that name took place in 1983 at Crystella Ski Hill and featured several relay events. It was sponsored by the Iron County Running Club.

In 1985, the Crystal Falls Lions Club introduced the Winter Fest at Camp Christine on Lake Mary, seeking an off-season event to complement the successful Bass Festival.

Nurmi explained the club has had several younger members in recent years but is still actively seeking new members.

“We have tons of ideas and want to do many more community projects,” he said. “The club really needs more members to accomplish all these things.”

He noted that those interested in joining do not have to be a Crystal Falls resident to become a member.

“We would love to have you as a member,” Nurmi said. “The club would like to introduce many more events into the community, but we need a larger roster.”

Anyone interested in becoming a member or volunteering for Freeze Your Bass Off can reach out to a club member or through the Crystal Falls Lions Club Facebook page.

All the proceeds from the event will go towards the Crystal Falls Lions Club Children’s Cancer Fund to support children and families in our community.

“This is a program we are very proud to support,” Nurmi said. “We hope everyone comes out to enjoy a great day at the lake and we are looking forward to making this a new annual event.”

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Terri Castelaz can be reached at 906-774-2772, ext. 85241, or tcastelaz@ironmountaindailynews.com.