By: Diana Johnsen
djohnsen@kcautv.com
It was a way to bring a community together and have a little chilly fun.
This year, the city of Storm Lake, Iowa celebrated its "3rd Annual Extreme Winter Festival".
It's a three day celebration that included all kinds of events for people to embrace the winter months.
"Usually with the winter it gets to be a little bit dead. We just wanted to create an event where people could get out of their home, enjoy some chili, have a good time. They can partake in some activities and embrace the winter months," said Paige Baskerville of the Storm lake Chamber of Commerce.
The "Chili and Cinnamon Roll Cook-Off" was one of the festivals' main events.
Sarah Saionz of Storm Lake, who finished fourth in the cook-off last year was out for vengeance this year and had her eye on the cook-off trophy and bragging rights.
"Lakeshore Restaurant won last year. I'm sitting next to them. I want to try and beat them," she said.
A golf game of "Closest to the Hole Pin" competition was a game that pulled folks away from the warm chili to the freezing outdoors.
"There are not a whole lot of outdoor winter activities you can do in the winter time. This is one I know they've done in the past and folks came out for it," said Whitney Dickinson, coordinator of the event.
And to really embrace the outdoors and the city's lake, extreme sized kites were flown that captivated on-lookers.
"The reason we really fly is we get to touch a lot of people. They're age could be 3 to 93, they love the kites. It makes them feel good," said Larry Day who came up from Clear Lake representing the "Color of the Wind Kite" Festival.
The city said about 150 showed up for the three day event.
