Free Valentine’s Day Fun: Thrifty Travel Tips

Valentine’s Day is not just a day for starry-eyed lovers. Several local community groups have planned activities to celebrate the holiday that would be fun for the entire family.
The Wisconsin State Horse Council Equine Foundation is having its annual Winter Fun Day on Saturday, February 14. The event is hosted by Springbrook Events, which is located at N8400, County Road I in Burnett. There is no admission charge, and there are many indoor and outdoor activities. Indoors, there will be a model horse show starting at 8 a.m. There will also be a pie contest, live music, and area equine-related vendors. Outdoors, at 10 a.m., there will be dog sled demonstrations, sleigh driving exhibitions, and other kid-friendly activities.
A unique attraction this year is a Skijoring demonstration. Skijoring is a winter sport where a person on cross-country skis is pulled by a horse, or sometimes by a team of dogs or a snowmobile. Equestrian skijoring is an exciting sport that is common in the American West, and skiers being pulled by a horse can reach speeds up to 40 mph.
Bobsled sleigh rides will be available for purchase from 11-2. There will also be raffles, a silent auction, and a bonfire with the makings for s’mores. Proceeds from the event are used to create scholarships for students going into equine-related fields of study. For more information, call 920-382-2711.
Marsh Haven Nature Center, located on Hy 49 just east of Waupun, also has fun, family-friendly activities planned for Valentine’s Day. Winter at Marsh Haven will be held from 2-7 p.m. on Saturday, the 14th. At this free event, visitors will be able to enjoy roasting marshmallows over the campfire, meet several of the animal ambassadors who live at the center, and do crafts. The center’s museum will also be open, which includes many exhibits featuring area wildlife, Native American history, and the ecology of the marsh.
For the adventurous, snowshoes will be available to more easily explore the Nature Center’s miles of trails. Starting at 4 p.m., the trails will be lit with luminaries, creating a peaceful, magical atmosphere for hikers.
The Lomira Library will be hosting a Valentine’s Day Bar Crawl on Wednesday, February 11, at 10 a.m. Not your usual bar crawl, this event will feature pans of tasty cookie bars, with participants “crawling” from one pan to another, sampling the yummy treats. To take part, please bring a pan of your favorite bars, along with the recipe. No actual crawling is required. The library is located at 427 South Water Street in Lomira.