- Anybody that's been to Tawas or Oscoda or any of these lakeside communities know it's beautiful up here in the winter and the summertime.

- Perchville is a coming together of the community and the public, and just a wonderful weekend.

Basically, you know, I call Mother Nature, and I ask her for some ice so we can have polar bear swim and a little snow, so, you know, we have a winter festival.

- [Adam] Now in its 76th year, the festival celebrates winter, community, and just a little friendly competition.

- Perchville originally started from the locals, and this time of year when the ice would freeze, a bunch of fishermen would get together on the ice and they would perch fish.

They would actually build fires out there.

They would have, like, their little communities.

And it turned into a fishing contest between the locals on who was gonna catch the biggest perch and stuff like that.

It kept growing and growing and growing, and somewhere along the line, somebody thought, well, let's turn this into, like, an actual festival.

- [Adam] The event has evolved over the years.

For a time, a demolition derby was held on the ice.

Now, ATVs race at a local park.

Ice shanties and a fishing tournament are still part of the weekend.

And family friendly traditions, like decorating perch and a parade draw locals downtown.

But the biggest attraction just might be the chili.

The competitors start serving up their chili shortly after the parade concludes and attendees line up to try a sample and cast their vote for the best offering.

- We have a lot of businesses that get really into the chili cookoff.

You can go to each business and taste the chili.

They have themes, they have costumes.

So, it's not just about the chili.

- [Adam] Locals and festival-goers turned out on a cold but sunny day to enjoy the chili.

Costumes and bullhorns, gimmicks, and a table full of toppings were all in play to win the popular vote for best chili.

- I just like seeing everybody come out and enjoy the Tawas area in the winter.

It's very quiet in the winter.

So, it's nice that we can have people come to town and enjoy everything we have.

- [Adam] Perchville brings excitement and a bit of noise to the town.

Just a few blocks outside of downtown, a park roared with ATV barrel racing.

Young and old competed head to head to see who could traverse the course the fastest.

Perchville may have started as a fishing tournament, but it's now clear that at the heart of this winter festival is bringing people together.

- Now, it's kind of a tradition.

We see a lot of families that come home for Perchville.

It's like a holiday.

People are, "Happy Perchville!

Happy Perchville!"

the week of.

- One of the biggest things is the families.

Like, their kids would go off to college or something like that, and so wherever they've gone to, Perchville is a time where people come home, get the gangs together, and just have a great time.

So it's, you know, family time, too.

- [Adam] Nothing says family time like encouraging loved ones to jump in to a freezing cold Great Lake.

And a staple of the polar bear swim has been Pete Barnes.

- I was approached by somebody, I think in 1990 or '91, about taking over the polar bear swim.

And I told the guy, Mark Elliot, as long as I don't have to do it, I will sign up for it.

And it's just a lot of fun.

You meet a lot of different people.

And that's what started it back, like I say, 35, 36 years ago.

- [Adam] In all of his years volunteering, Pete has come to one conclusion about those who take the plunge.

- Well, to me, you know, a little bit crazy.

I don't get it.

Because like I say, the water's about 40 degrees, - [Adam] Whether it is the chili, the perch, the barrel races, the cold plunge, or the sunset community, there is something for everyone.

- Perchville is just a really great celebration in the Tawas area and we're excited to be doing it for another 76 years.