By Laurie Lenten

The Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce will once again offer its activity-filled count down to the New Year with Marvel in Manitowish Waters, which will run from Dec. 25, through Jan. 1, 2020.

This week-long event will offer a variety of low or no cost family-oriented activities, both indoors and out, that will be held regardless of what the weather chooses to do. Past years’ activities have included story hour, crafts, horse-drawn wagon rides, live music, dances, snowshoeing, ice skating, nature-based activities and New Year’s Eve celebrations complete with fireworks. Activity locations will vary throughout the town based on participating organizations.

As part of the Marvel in Manitowish Waters, the North Lakeland Discovery Center will host a Winter Family Play Day on Friday, Dec. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will offer a number of free drop-in activities that promise fun for the whole family, including winter scavenger hunts, snow critter building, crafts, and horse-drawn sleigh rides sponsored by the Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce. Snowshoes will be available for complimentary onsite use throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Snowshoe quantities are limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis at the center’s Nature Nook.

Enjoy the outdoor fun and then head indoors to the Annual Chili Cook Off, which will run from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., where you can taste and vote for your favorite chili entry. All the fixings will be provided. To enter your favorite chili creation and get a chance to win the coveted “Wooden Spoon” award, call the North Lakeland Discovery Center at 715-543-2085. Registration deadline is Dec. 26. There is no entry fee.

For those who prefer the outdoors after dark, the North Lakeland Discovery Center will offer a Candlelit Snowshoe Hike on Saturday, Dec. 28, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Enjoy an evening of snowshoeing the Discovery Center’s two-mile snowshoe trail with beautiful luminaries lighting your pathway. Bring your own snowshoes or rent a pair at the Discovery Center for $3 (limited quantities available). End the evening with hot chocolate and s’mores around a blazing bonfire. Cost for the event is $7 per person. Registration is required and can be done by calling the Discovery Center at 715-543-2085.

The North Lakeland Discovery Center is located at 14006 Discovery Lane in Mantowish Waters. Daily hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

As part of the Marvel in Manitowish Waters events, the Koller Memorial Library will hold its Open House with Christmas Crafts and Activities on Friday, Dec. 27 through Monday, Dec. 30. Stop by anytime during the event and enjoy refreshments while creating a holiday craft project. Hours for the open house are Dec. 27 from 3 to 7 p.m.; Dec. 28 from 9 to noon; and Dec. 30 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. No registration is required.

The Koller Memorial Library is located at 5761 Hwy 51 in Manitowish Waters. For more information on the open house or other library events, call 715-543-2700, or log onto www.kollerlibrary.org.

For more information on the Marvel in Manitowish Waters activities, call the Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce at 715-543-8488, or log onto www.manitowishwaters.org.

Laurie Lenten is a freelance writer who lives in Rhinelander. Her articles also appear in Northwoods Commerce, Northwoods ‘boomers and Beyond and Living on the Lake magazines.