Watonka Outdoor Facilities welcomes Wally Ice Fest for their annual pond hockey tournament, curling demonstration and winter festival on February 8 & 9th, 2020
LAKE WALLENPAUPACK, PENNSYLVANIA— December 3rd, 2019 – Pocono Pond Hockey today announced their new home for the highly anticipated Wally Ice Fest at nearby Watonka Outdoor Facilities in Hawley, PA. Located just miles from Lake Wallenpaupack, the majestic former campground is situated along a winding Middle Creek and shallow 10-acre lake and will serve as the idyllic place for the pond hockey tournament, curling demonstration and endless winter festivities. Ice Tee Golf’s location may remain on Lake Wallenpaupack and is still TBD(more to follow).
“Our Pond Hockey group has been hatching the idea of a new location for 2020 after holding a consolation event, “Wally Lite” on a small private pond last February. Because smaller lakes freeze over much faster and are not subject to as many safety concerns, the reliability factor of good ice becomes a sure bet.” Said Chris Becker, Tournament Director.
Recently re-branded from a camp to an outdoor facility, Watonka’s rustic heated lodge, parking facilities and location a short three miles north of the Lake Wallenpaupack Dam and just over a couple of miles west of Hawley were very attractive features in the search for a home for the full-feature, main event on February 8th and 9th.
Also impressed by Welcome Lake, PA, Pocono Pond Hockey is proud to announce an added, bonus event on January 25th, the White Owl White Out, a “Wally Lite” version with a focus on the nature of the game of pond hockey and snowmobiling. Additional details will be announced in mid-December.
Wally Ice Fest at Watonka anticipates 20 to 30 teams comprised of 6 players each, which will be spread out over 6-8 rinks. Those playing in the Pocono Pond Hockey weekend long tournament on Feb 8th and 9th will bring many to the Hawley/Honesdale area that will need lodging, food and entertainment. Historically, many players bring their families to watch the games and take advantage of the abundance of activities in the surrounding areas, benefiting local businesses and establishments.
Spectators Welcome
The Anthracite Curling Club will be adding some color via crazy pants and kilts, while giving free demonstrations on additional rinks just for Curling. Spectators get to see the pros play a few ends of a really cool Olympic sport, and try their hand at sliding a few stones themselves.
Ice Tee Golf Tournament
The Chamber of the Northern Poconos has partnered in this weekend long festival, providing another fun event, golfing on a frozen lake. Two 9-hole challenging courses will be created, complete with tree-lined fairways, greens, water traps, obstacles, and roughs. Golfers will receive a colored golf ball plus a scorecard and map illustrating the course layout, and each participant is restricted to playing with two clubs and one putter. The location of the courses and the date will soon be announced. More information can also be found at www.northernpoconoschamber.com.
Sponsorship opportunities are still available! We hope you can help us and in so doing we can help drive attendees to your business in one form or another. You will get exposure on the website at www.WallyIceFest.com along with abundant social media and other traditional forms of marketing/advertising.
For more information or to register please visit www.WallyIceFest.com
Camp Watonka
www.watonkaoutdoor.com