Bay View’s Winter Blast at South Shore Park Pavilion

Yes, there has been little snow and the temperatures haven’t been the normal arctic freeze as we come to expect in Wisconsin. But there has still been precious few hours of daylight and yes, it’s still chilly.

Speaking of chili, this is the first time that the decade-long Bay View Winter Blast has not featured a cook-off contest for that food product (as other contests across the city dominate that scene), so the organizers this year decided to go with the next best thing — SPAM.

Yes, along with “luau-themed” contests to decide who had the best Hawaiian shirt, got lowest in limbo, and could give the greatest hula hooping, there was SPAM-carving demonstrations as well as activities, face painting and music by the Hawaiian Millionaires. Throw in an appearance by a Klement’s Racing Sausage and the Bay View Drum Line, and you had a real party. Centrally located along the lakefront at the South Shore Park Pavilion, this is a popular event among the many families that have lived in this neighborhood.

TCD Photo Intern Benjamin Wick stopped by to capture the scene, and so we bring you this slideshow or check out our flickr set here.  To find out more about the Bay View Neighborhood Association (BVNA) and upcoming events, visit their website at http://www.bayviewneighborhood.org/winterblast.