Little snow, but Rotary still spreads the Jam

Although Mother Nature was stingy with the snow, the heat was on at the Spring Lake Rotary Club’s first-ever Snow Jam at Central Park.

About 150 people visited the heated tent throughout the day and evening to listen to live music, sip beer and chat with friends.

Ferrysburg resident Jeff Minnerick and his 4-year-old son, Levi, practiced street hockey on what organizers had hoped would be a frozen ice rink Saturday.

“It’s a good event,” Jeff said. “It’s cold and it’s snowing.”

Unfortunately, the snow and cold didn’t come soon enough. Cross-country skiing, and snow sculpture and ice hockey contests had to be canceled.

“It’s too little, too late,” said snow jam organizer Craig Cather, as about a dozen people listened to music by the Knicknacks Saturday afternoon and a few hardy folks battled the cold during a hole-in-one golf tournament on the ball diamond. “It is our first year and we’re learning as we go, and we’ll build on this.”

Ferrysburg resident Jennifer Lynn, a backup vocalist for the Knicknacks, said she was thankful a heater was placed near the stage.

“This is a great event,” said Lynn. “I’m very happy with the beer selection (New Holland) — it’s locally brewed. If I weren’t here today, I’d probably be sitting on my couch watching basketball. I think this is great.”

Cather said the proceeds will be used for the club’s local and international projects.

To read more of this story, see today’s print or e-edition of the Grand Haven Tribune.

To see more photos from the event, click here.