Shivaree XX gets underway at Black Lake
A great weekend of fun and sport is planned for the 20th annual Shivaree on Black Lake this year. If you have never seen a real live sturgeon up close and personal, here’s your chance to come face to face with a unique species of fish that can trace it’s family history back to the time of the dinosaurs. This is truly a one-of-a-kind event.
The warming temperatures will make it easier for those who shudder at the mention of “wind chill” as the frigid weather takes a break long enough to enjoy this time honored winter festival. Doreen Schaar, one of the organizers of the Shivaree, noted that there is plenty of ice on the lake and expects the weather to cooperate for a great weekend.
There will be plenty of chances for the amateur photo-nuts to catch some special shots. Parents and grandparents can introduce the younger generation to a tradition that is as old as any settlement on the sunrise side. The excitement is growing as the festival approaches.
Starting on Friday night with the torchlight cross-country ski and snowmobile safari, there is a chance to make the three-mile loop on Black Mountain with plenty of time for meeting and greeting friends and family.
On Saturday starting at 11 a.m. and going until 1 p.m. there is the lawn mower race for the silly factor. The poker run gets under way at the same time for the more serious sporting enthusiasts. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, try the closest to the pin golf contest or the extreme paintball target field.
For the kids there is the sumo wrestling matches and other games. The mechanical bull rides are not for the faint hearted but that will not deter the macho men or the wild women from hopping on. Don’t forget to register for the fishing contest at noon and grab another guy or girl and join the co-ed flag football between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Throughout the day, vendors will provide food and beverages, and kids can take pony rides and get their faces plastered with bright designs and colors as well as other surprises. Registration for Fear Factor will begin at 4:40 pm and the names will be drawn at 5 p.m.
There is a $500 prize for the lucky winner. After the drawing of names, the games begin. The contest is patterned after the popular television program of the same name. Contestants are expected to perform wild and crazy stunts as well as eating rather disgusting items much like the medieval practice of the “ordeal by consumption of the abominable morsel.” It should be highly entertaining for the spectators.
On Sunday, the events continue with many chances to catch the things you missed on Saturday. In adddition, the fishing contest awards will be announced at 4 p.m. The sturgeon fishing contest is conducted by a lottery that attracted 454 applicants with a drawing of 25 lucky numbers to be in the contest.
The Black Lake Sturgeon Spearing Season opens Saturday and runs through February 13, 2005 or until the total harvest of five fish has been reached, whichever comes first. Twent
Successful applicants must pick up their tags or notify participating DNR personnel by 10 a.m. or forfeit the opportunity to fish for sturgeon that day. Unclaimed tags will be made available to registered anglers present at the registration station by means of a secondary drawing.
Tags are not transferable and anglers must present proper identification when picking up the tags. Subsequent drawings will be held at 7 p.m. after each fishing day, provide the fish quota has not been reached.
The subsequent drawings will be conducted at the DNR station on the east side of Black Lake at the boat launch off County Road 489.