OKOBOJI, Iowa (KTIV) - It's a busy weekend up at the Iowa Great Lakes as the Okoboji Winter Games are in full swing.
Crowds packed into the city of Okoboji this Saturday night as people came from all over to celebrate and take part in the various events.
The Winter Games started on Thursday but most of the festivities took place on Saturday.
According to the CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, the winter games brings in thousands of people to the area.
"Rough estimate is, it brings 30-40,000 people to town," said Blain Andera, CEO of the Iowa Great Lakes Area and Spirit Lake Chamber of Commerce. "This is an opportunity for businesses that aren't even open in the winter, they come back and open up just for this weekend for all the people that come here to celebrate the winter games."
Events that are part of the Okoboji Winter Games include a giant kite festival, ice sculpting, human foosball, and even a belching contest.
For some of these events, Andera says it takes a lot of people to set up.
"You know, putting on the Winter Games, there are so many events, it takes hundreds and hundreds of volunteers to pull that off, not to mention the law enforcement and the EMS and the other Search and Rescue and all of the people that have to coordinate together just to keep everybody safe."
The events on Saturday culminated with a huge fireworks display at Arnold's Park.
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Okoboji Winter Games brings tens of thousands to the Iowa Great Lakes - KTIV
