Curling requires great concentration, muscle control — and a stone sliding on ice. (Photo courtesy Sturgeon Spectacular)

In the cold midwinter the Upper Great Lakes festivals heat up! Some folks turn snow into art, others schuss over it on skis, and others just build bonfires and roast marshmallows. Join the fun and warm up as you chill out.

They Say “Schnee”

Yes it’s true: in Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, they love snow. They call it “Schnee” and they actually celebrate it! “Schnee Days” Jan. 27-29 is an annual weekend devoted to dozens of fun things to do in snow and you are invited. Among the events planned for couples, families, and winter adventurers are “The SchneeLauf 5K” run/walk, a steaming chili cook-off, snowshoeing at Quit-Qui-Oc, cross-country skiing, ice-skating, winter disc golf at Road America, Old-Fashioned Cocktail Mixing Class at the Paddock Club, an ice-cube hunt, wine-sipping and painting at Vintage, and cool live music at The Osthoff Resort. www.elkhartlakechamber.com/schnee–days

Championship snow sculpting artwork can be found in Lake Geneva. (Photo by Gary Knowles)

Winterfest & Snow Sculpting Championship

Lake Geneva hosts the 28th annual Winterfest, featuring the U.S. National Snow Sculpting Championships, Feb. 1-5. It’s the only national snow-sculpting championship in the USA, bringing in the most talented and award-winning U.S. sculpting teams. See 15 state champions turn snow into larger-than-life-sized art during an epic…