EUSTIS – Between 2,000 and 3,000 snowmobilers and winter sports lovers are expected to arrive in Eustis this weekend for the 10th annual Polar Bear Blast, organizer Mary Morris said Monday.
The event is expected to begin Thursday, Feb. 2, with live music, a bonfire and a Kickoff Buffet, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Kerns Inn. That will be followed by two days of poker and radar runs, and antique snowmobile displays, ending Saturday late afternoon.
Morris said the town of Eustis and Stratton’s Flagstaff Area Business Association started the Blast the year of the association’s inception because one of FABA’s missions is to “advertise our beautiful natural area up here.”
Morris said FABA members hope the Blast provides “some events local people can enjoy” in what many say is the dreariest month of the year, as well as attract people from other places to the area.
And for a town with less than 700 inhabitants, the Blast has historically done just that. Morris said between 2,000 and 3,000 people usually come up for the weekend, filling all the town’s “bed space” and bringing business into town.
There are even events for the non-snowmobiling crowd, she said. In addition to the plethora of races, there is a one-room schoolhouse museum to visit, a chili or chowder contest, snow sculpture and “polar house” decorating, and a number of raffles and casino events.
Morris said that even though snow has been minimal in Northern Franklin County this winter, Blast organizers kept the faith that ample snow would fall before Thursday evening.
“Somehow,” Morris said, “it usually works out, and we hope for the best.”
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