MISSOULA – The Ranch Club hosted their fifth annual Winterfest Sunday with the weather creating a bit of a challenge for crews in charge of running the event.
“We’ve had years of 50 degrees. We’ve had years of 10 degrees. Now we’re kind of right at that Mid 30s but obviously a white out here. A lot of manpower on shovels and brooms trying to keep activities clear,” said Ranch Club general manager Nick McKenthen.
With the snow falling all throughout the day McKenthen estimates they still saw close to 1,000 people.
The proceeds from the event went towards supporting the Missoula Food Bank and K9 Care Montana, which provides service dogs to veterans and children with autism.
The Missoula Figure Skating Club helped with lessons on the ice and the Missoula Bruins were there to play hockey while the Missoula Curling Club supplied curling stones.
More than a dozen sponsors helped to provide food and other activities. Overall the staff believes the event only gets better every year.
“We live and we learn through mistakes out here and trial and error. So certain activities over the years we’ve thrown out and we’ve kept the activities that are in higher demand. So it’s fun year over year,” said McKenthen.
The Ranch Club hosts Winterfest each year on the Sunday before the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday.
