Tip-Up Town ,Houghton Lake ,Mi.

[lonehunter]

January 18 to January 27 , 2008

The website for Tip-up town

[url "http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/cgi-bin/tutusa2006/index.html"]http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/...utusa2006/index.html[/url]



an artical about tip up town Ice Fishing is still at the Heart of Tip-Up Town USA [url "http://openpr.com/news/kategorien2-13-.html"][/url]Pressemitteilung von: [url "http://openpr.com/news/archiv/24457/Houghton-Lake-Chamber-of-Commerce.html"]Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce[/url] (openPR) - December 7th - Houghton Lake, MI. With only 44 days to go to the start of Michigan’s largest winter festival (held the last two weekends of January every year), the weather conditions are already looking promising for one of Tip-Up Town’s oldest and most popular activities – the Ice Fishing Contest.

Lyman Foster, owner of Lyman’s on the Lake, and a Board Member of the Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce explains why ice fishing is so popular: “Being relatively shallow, Houghton Lake freezes quickly and it’s not unusual to have 12” or more of solid ice covering the lake by the time Tip-Up Town rolls around. There is a great variety of fish in the lake – Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch, Crappie, Bluegill – something for all fishermen, young and old. And the festival got its name from the equipment that Ice Fishermen like to use while enjoying the sport – Tip Ups! In fact, Houghton Lake grows into a bigger town in the winter, thanks to all the shanties parked out on the ice.”

And what do you get when you put together great fishing conditions and Tip-Up Town? Well, for one thing you get the TUT Ice Fishing Contests, for adults and children. Ivan Bassett, volunteer organizer of the TUT Ice Fishing Contest explains: “This year, there will be cash prizes in both the individual and largest catch categories for adults. Plus, for every entry into the contest, you get a chance to win $100 in the grand draw, held once each weekend. Each of the six individual catch classes (Northern Pike, Walleye, Perch, Crappie, Rock Bass and Bluegill/Sunfish) offers a $25 first prize for the largest fish brought in by 1:00 on both Sundays. It’s great fun to stand and watch the official ‘fish board’ as the fish start to come in and you wonder which fish will be the winner. Or, if quantity, is more your style, plan on entering the largest catch contest, with two categories – Walleye/Northern Pike or the Pan Fish combo class with $50 first prizes.”

The younger fishermen (14 and under) get a chance to compete too in their own contest run both Saturdays. There are prizes for the largest catch in the same individual classes as the main fishing contest.

All that is required for entry into either fishing contests is a 2008 Tip-Up Town USA badge, still great value at $5.

And, if that isn’t enough, watch out for Wally and his friends and you could be fishing for big dollars. In fact, if you go fishing on Houghton Lake, Higgins Lake, or Lake St Helen any time between now and March 15th and are skilful enough to pull out one of the 19 specially tagged fish (including Walleye, Blue Gill, Pike, Bass, Crappie or Perch) you will get a chance to win $25,000 and a minimum of $1,000 at the grand draw on April 1st, 2008. (At the time of writing, only one tagged fish has been caught).

Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce
Houghton Lake Dr,
Houghton Lake, MI 48629, USA

Denise MacKenzie
[url "mailto:coyleshl@m33access.com?subject=openPR.de Kontakt"]coyleshl@m33access.com[/url]
(989) 422-3812

The Chamber of Commerce organizes many events for the Houghton Lake community to stimulate local business and provide attractions for visitors. Tip-Up-Town USA is the largest winter festival in Northern Michigan and 2008 will be its 58th year.
[signature]

[lonehunter]

[size 2]9 & 10 NEWS PRESS STORY[/size] [indent]
It's hard to put into words how Tip Up Town USA has come to be the very description of winter fun and enjoyment for the whole family at Houghton Lake.

Thousands of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and neighboring residents return each year to see this largest Winter Festival in Michigan, held annually the last two weekends in January.

It all began in February 1951, when community minded persons realized that Houghton Lake, which produces great ice-fishing, was literally a 'Community on the Ice' each winter. Two local businessmen, Bob Sweet and Bob Carmen, conceived the idea of creating a little fun on the ice to relieve the long winter months, and by which they might attract more tourism to the area during the off season.

A nation-wide contest to name the 'Winter Festival' as it was then being called, drew more than 500 entries. The contest judges eventually chose 'Tip Up Town USA' as its name. Tip Up Town USA is now a Trademark of Houghton Lake Chamber of Commerce registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Electing Tip Up Town USA Mayors, Marshals, Queens and observing different political parties in action, has always created exciting community participants.

The campaigning of the candidates comes complete with speeches, bands, small parades and crazy costumes. Section 3 of the By Laws of TUT USA clearly states that 'the purpose of the village on the ice is to promote bigger lies, hilarity, tom foolery and good will.'

The earlier festivals were financed for the most part by the sale of advertising and listings in a program book. Starting in 1953, the sales of TUT USA badges, made of wood, for 50 cents, became a tradition that has continued through to this current year. However, the wooden badges have been replaced by badges now made of metal and selling for $5.00. The sale of these badges brings the greatest revenue to finance this event. Collecting these badges and acquiring the earlier 'wooden' badges had become quite a spreading hobby for young and old alike. The badge is necessary to participate in the FUN and GAMES.

Several weeks prior to the festival, a TUT Kick-off Program is held, where the candidates for Queen, Mayor and Marshall complete their many campaigns and exhibitions for office, followed by an election ballot.

A special 'Medallion' is manufactured each year and hidden somewhere in the local area on public access land. A contest is held to find it using special 'Clues' given out each day until the medallion is found. A prize is given to the clever person able to decipher the clues and successfully locate the medallion.

A Grand Parade opens the festival activities on Saturday of the first weekend at 10:00am. The Grand Parade travels east from the Houghton Lake Heights along M-55 and ends up at the TUT USA site, where clowns, games, contests, concessions, cavorting, demonstrations and aerial performances are part of the feverish activity.

A spectacular Fireworks display over the ice in front of the TUT USA site begins at dusk on both Saturday evenings of the festival.

Sunday mornings, a non-denominational Church Service is held at the TUT USA site to start off the day of family activities.

For more than 20 years, TUT USA has been acclaimed among the top ten festivals in the nation. In 1963, the United States Chamber of Commerce acclaimed it the seventh largest winter activity in the month of January in the United States.

Approximately 80,000 people turned out during the past festivals to enjoy the results of hundreds of hours work put in by individual volunteers and various community committees. [/indent] [size 2]Links:[/size] [ul] [li][url "http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/cgi-bin/tutusa2006/blog.html"][#000000][size 2]Tip Up Town Blog[/size][/#000000][/url] [li][url "http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/tutusa2006/documents/schedule092807.pdf"][#000000][size 2]2008 Schedule of Events[/size][/#000000][/url] [li][url "http://www.tip-up-townusa.com/cgi-bin/tutusa2006/index.html"][#000000][size 2]Visit our Web Site[/size][/#000000][/url] [li][url "mailto:hlcc@houghtonlakemichigan.net"][#000000][size 2]Contact Us[/size][/#000000][/url] [/li][/ul]
[signature]

[lonehunter]

It's time !!!
[signature]

[davetclown]

thats susposed to be this weekend and next?

we aint got no ice, [pirate]

well maybe by next week end...[unimpressed] Hope they can turn a buck.... they still have the carny and entertainment... just I doubt they'll have the fishing derbys and sled rasin..
[signature]

[lonehunter]

There's enough ice for the sleds and quads but you wouldn't catch me out there with anything bigger .

Lows in the single digits this week [cool] .
Old man winter must have a warm spot in his heart for the carnival this year .
[signature]

[davetclown]

they are saying in my area, the high for sunday will be 14... sat and sun 5* and 8*, just might see some ice next weekend...

good thing you said they have ice up there, from what we sit, they anint no ice nowhere... thought mid state would be about the same... I take it you guys didnt get all the rain we got then?
[signature]

[lonehunter]

I've been shoveling rain all week [crazy] !
Yea, the ice is safe up here ,our roads are now clear to drive on , monday and tuesday it was all i could do to go faster than 35 MPH . just to get to work on time .
[signature]

[lonehunter]

safety guidelines for walking or fishing on the ice:
[ul] [li]Before venturing out onto the ice, check with local sources for the most up-to-date information on ice conditions. [li]Always fish with a buddy whenever possible and always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to return. [li]Do not go out on any ice unless you test the thickness and quality with a spud first. [li]Avoid areas where there are inlets or outlets due to moving water under the ice. [li]Avoid areas where there are natural springs. [li]Avoid the ice around structures, docks and pilings. [li]Pay attention to wind direction especially when fishing on large bodies of waters. If the wind direction is just right, it can blow the ice out and away from shore leaving anglers stranded. [li]Wear a personal floatation device. Also, carry a couple of large nails and a length of nylon rope. If you should go through the ice, the nails could help provide a grip on the slippery surface and aid in getting you out. [li]If you do break through the ice, try not to panic. Remember to turn toward the direction you came from -- toward the ice that supported you. Use the nails or your hands to gain a hold on the unbroken surface as an aid in getting out. [li]Once you are out of the water and are lying on the ice, don't stand. Roll away from the point where you broke through until you are on solid ice. [li]If you see someone fall through the ice, do not run toward the person. Carefully extend a rope, ladder, pole or line to the victim. [li]Always get the victim to a hospital emergency room as soon as possible for treatment.[/li][/ul]
[signature]

[davetclown]

dont for get to bundle up in layers this weekend, the alberta clipper is a commin our way in time for the party, pack extra pairs of dry sox and clothing,

the wind chill will be below zero....
[signature]