The Super Bowl is over (congratulations to the Philadelphia Eagles) and the good news is that there are still exciting things to do outdoors this winter. This Saturday is the Bethel Big Burn (BBB) and Sunday is the King of the Ice (KOTI) fishing contest on White Lake.

The Bethel Big Burn is a fairly new annual event hosted by the Bethel Business Association. It’s held each year at the Alton Distillery on Route 17B in Bethel near the intersection with Hurd Road (which goes into Bethel Woods). The BBB goes from 6-10 PM on Saturday evening.

The Bethel Big Burn has its roots in an old European tradition where all of the used Christmas trees are gathered up in a pile for a huge bonfire to help say goodbye to winter and hello to the coming spring. There are plenty of treats and goodies as well as libations available in the distillery during the event. I was there last year (helping to park cars) and can assure everyone that it is awesome. A good time is had by all.

The Bethel Business Association designed the Big Burn to be part of a King of the Ice Weekend celebration and the two events go hand-in-hand. The King of the Ice is held each year by the Sullivan County Conservation Club (I’m the President of the Conservation Club in addition to the Federation, so yes, this is indeed a shameless plug for our biggest fundraiser of the year – my apologies to my editors). Both groups work together to help each other raise funds for our worthy causes.

The King of the Ice starts at 6 am and runs until 3 pm on Sunday. It coincides with the DEC free fishing weekend so anyone can come down and participate without having to buy a license. Many of our readers are from across the mighty Delaware in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and I want to make everyone aware that the NY free fishing days include nonresidents, so out-of-state folks can come and fish in the contest without needing a license as well.

KOTI is held at the White Lake Fire Department, near the intersection of Route 17B and Route 55. We have good ice this year (after having had to cancel the KOTI contest for two years in a row). Bait will be available for purchase on site. The White Lake Fire Department will have a concession with food available, so you can feel good about supporting the folks from Station 35 while you are chowing down on lunch or a snack.

I hope everyone can make it to the Bethel Big Burn and the King of the Ice and that you all enjoy the outdoors!

John S. Van Etten is the current president of the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs of Sullivan County, Inc.