Vikings Arctic Blast returning to Mille Lacs

ONAMIA - The Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe and Minnesota Vikings have teamed up again for the annual Arctic Blast Snowmobile Rally Feb. 13-14 at Mille Lacs Lake.

Participants will snowmobile with current and former Vikings players and cheerleaders and have a chance to win $30,000 in prizes.

Pancake breakfast

The weekend will kick off with a community pancake breakfast Feb. 13 from 9 a.m. to noon at the GC Mille Lacs Events and Convention Center. Activities will include autographs and pictures with current Vikings players, visits from Vikings cheerleaders and mascots, inflatable interactive games, football toss and kick contest, face painting, and prize drawings.

Tickets to the breakfast are $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 years and under. For every meal purchased, $1 will be donated to the Mille Lacs Band Community Youth Foundation, and the Vikings will donate an additional $1,000 to the foundation. The event also supports the Vikings Children's Fund.

Snowmobile ride

The official snowmobile ride kicks off from various blast points at noon Feb. 13. Participants will ride a combination of well-groomed trails and marked routes on Mille Lacs Lake with current and former Vikings players and Vikings cheerleaders. Blast points include the Blue Goose Inn in Garrison, Castaways Resort in Malmo, Nitti's Hunters Point in Isle, and Buzzie's on the Bay in Isle.

Prize party

The weekend will end Feb. 14 with a chance to win $30,000 in prizes from the Vikings. Participants who check into two Blast Points during the snowmobile ride will be eligible for prizes. Prizes, which include a 2010 Arctic Cat snowmobile or ATV, 2010 Vikings season tickets, autographed Vikings gear, and video and audio equipment, will be given out from 10 a.m. to noon at the Grand Casino Mille Lacs Events and Convention Center.

To pre-register for the Arctic Blast visit www.vikings.com or call the Vikings (952) 828-6577 by Feb. 1. Participants can also register at any of the four blast points.