It’s a toss-up at the MidWinter Chill Cardboard Sled Races
By Marcie Post
Winter in Michigan has three phases. December is magical, and holiday spirit abounds. Parents are happy, kids are angels, and the snow (if there is any) is a blessing. January is the start of a new year; people want to get in shape, enjoy a new hobby like cross-country skiing or snowshoeing, and are generally happy. And then the end of January hits; people realize they have at least eight more weeks of cold and sub-zero temperatures, and they’re over it, which is where the Midland MidWinter Chill Cardboard Sled Races come in.
2018 was the first year of this new, favorite event in Midland, Mich. Located two hours north of Detroit in the heart of central-lower Michigan, Midland supports a robust parks and recreation department complete with 72 parks and more park acreage than a combination of all of its neighboring cities. Midland City Forest is the largest of the city’s parks at 520 acres. A true four-season park, it transforms into the Great Lakes Bay Region’s premiere winter destination. The area offers groomed cross-country ski trails, ice skating, tobogganing, and sledding. Midland City Forest is also the site of the annual MidWinter Chill.