What is new for Northwoods Drifter in 2026
Winter’s not done with us yet, and that’s good news for anyone looking to try something you won’t find at your average ski hill. The Forest County Potawatomi Community is bringing back an ancient winter game that’s been sliding down icy tracks for hundreds of years — and they want everyone to give it a shot.
On March 14th, Bug Lake in Crandon becomes the venue for a free snowsnake tournament that blends competition, cultural preservation, and pure winter fun. Ya know that feeling when you skip a stone across a lake? This is like that, but on ice, with handcrafted wooden spears, and way more bragging rights.
Snowsnake might be new to most Northwoods residents, but it’s been part of Great Lakes Native communities since long before Wisconsin became a state.
Think of snowsnake as bowling meets javelin, all happening on a groomed ice track. Competitors use handmade hardwood dowels between three and five feet long. One end gets shaped into a point — like a spear tip or a snake’s head, hence the name.
“The game goes back several hundred years,” explains Lawrence Mann, culture manager with the Forest County Potawatomi. “The object of the game is to see how far you can slide [a snowsnake] down the track.”
The technique matters more than brute strength. You’re trying to launch that wooden snake so it glides smoothly across the ice, picking up speed as it goes. The longest throw wins, simple as that.
For the Forest County Potawatomi, this isn’t just a fun winter event. It’s part of a larger mission to keep traditional practices alive and pass them to the next generation.
The tribe’s history in Wisconsin runs deep but hasn’t always been easy. After signing 42 treaties with the U.S. government — more than any other tribe — the Potawatomi lost most of their original land base. Many families resisted forced removal westward and stayed in the Great Lakes region, eventually establishing the Forest County Potawatomi Community in 1913.
Cultural practices like snowsnake connect today’s community to ancestors who played the same game on frozen lakes and rivers centuries ago.
“The goal is to revitalize the game of snowsnake in our community, and bring it back for all levels, but also open it up to all of the public, so they can also experience the excitement of this game.” — Lawrence Mann
The tournament includes divisions designed so nobody sits on the sidelines. Here’s who can compete:
That last category reflects Potawatomi values around reciprocity and community bonds. Store-bought gifts work fine, but there’s something special about sharing homemade items or traditional foods with other competitors.
The tournament runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 14th. Spring might be teasing us, but there should still be plenty of ice and snow for good sliding conditions.
Never touched a snowsnake before? No problem. The Forest County Potawatomi will supply snowsnakes for anyone who wants to try. You don’t need to bring equipment or have any experience.
As an added bonus, organizers will raffle off $2,000 worth of snow tubes throughout the day. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday when cabin fever’s really setting in.
Bug Lake sits just outside Crandon in Forest County — heart of the Northwoods where winter traditions still mean something. The event is completely free and open to everyone, whether you’re Potawatomi, from another tribe, or just a curious neighbor who likes trying new things.
Events like this snowsnake tournament do more than fill a Saturday afternoon. They create bridges between generations and cultures while celebrating winter instead of just enduring it.
The Forest County Potawatomi’s commitment to cultural preservation shows in details like the multiple age divisions and the atadiwiin gift exchange. These aren’t token gestures — they’re intentional choices to honor traditional practices while welcoming the broader community.
For those of us who love the Northwoods partly because of its rich Native history, tournaments like this offer rare chances to participate rather than just observe. You learn by doing, and you connect with neighbors while launching wooden snakes down a frozen track.
March 14th might be your only chance this season to try an ancient game that’s been part of this region longer than any of our families. Bundle up, head to Bug Lake, and see how far you can send a snowsnake sliding. Who knows? You might discover your new favorite winter sport.
For more information about the Forest County Potawatomi Community and their cultural programs, visit their official website.
Written by
Mike has been coming up or living in the Northwoods since his childhood. He is also an avid outdoorsman, writer and supper club aficionado.
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