Driftrunners gear up for Snowfest 46

CRESCO - The 46th Annual Snowfest is scheduled for Jan. 26-29, 2017. The Snowfest, originally known as "Snofest" has become a well-known and popular event for snowmobile enthusiasts, community members and visitors during the often-uneventful month of January.

The event will include trail rides, charity rides, the Snowball Dance, a Boy Scout breakfast, a liver and onions dinner sponsored by the Wildlife Club, a vendor show, the traditional Torch Light Parade and always popular 50/50 Fun Run. Additional events are also scheduled.

“We are hoping to bring back a vendor show on Saturday,” said Jeff Zak, Driftrunner Club President. “It kind of depends on weather conditions. If we have some additional snow I am pretty confident we will have quite a few vendors show up. This used to be a pretty popular component of the weekend so I am hoping it will be again.”

Saturday evening’s Snowball Dance will feature Troubleshooter out of Rushford, Minn. The four-member band, has been playing country music for 25 years and is comprised of band members Rodney Darr, Bruce Darr, Dennis Overland and Bruce Greenwood. They have been the opening act for country greats Martina McBride, Sawyer Brown, Taylor Swift, Tracey Byrd, Brooks and Dunn and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. As in the past, the Snowball Dance encourages members of the community and out of area visitors to attend the dance as well as other events.

The Driftrunners Snowmobile Club currently has over 100 members, up approximately ten members at the same time last year.

“We advertise out of Waterloo, as well as locally because we usually get quite a few riders from the Cedar Rapids and Cedar Falls Corridor,” added Zak. “We will also have people coming in from Illinois and Minnesota.”

Zak shared that the trails this weekend are “fair to good.”

“I have heard that over the weekend the bars were busy with riders,” said Zak. “This weekend brings business to our local area and people enjoy the quality of our trails. We put a lot of work into keeping the trail system well marked and groomed. The trail rides are very popular.”

Cresco is fortunate to have two motels, the Cresco Motel and Super 8, and as of this past weekend there were still rooms available for the weekend.

“We only have one room left for the 27th,” said a Super 8 front desk clerk, but there are plenty of rooms available for Saturday evening.

So why should people be excited about Snowfest 46?

“It’s a good time to meet up with friends and make new friends,” said Zak. “People come together and have something in common. It’s an opportunity to support our charity work by taking part and it brings business into the local area.”

Money that comes after expenses will go to HoCA and Spina Bifida (half of the money for the 50/50 Spina Bifida Fun Run goes to the winner) and the Iowa State Snowmobile Association.