The low chilly Minnesota

temperatures of the season are a reason for celebration at the SPAM Museum this Saturday.

The museum will be hosting its first Winter Celebration festival, paying homage to the winter season.

"It is a family event for families in the community," said Shawn Radford SPAM Museum manager.

A variety of activities will be available at the festival, which will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., including: face painting, appearances by Bubbles the clown, who will be making animal balloons for the crowd, SPAMMY and a Dinty Moore character. Children will be able to make snowmen out of Styrofoam and paper.

"We are also planning a few things outside, if the weather permits," Radford said. Among these, SPolf (SPAM golf) and a football toss.

The festival, which was planned to coincide with the coldest time of the year, will have seven traveling snowmen.

Austin's snowman a 5 1/2-foot tall blue and yellow statue, one of the seven is part of the 'Roamin' for SnowMN' a state-wide public art project promoting tourism throughout Minnesota.

The snowmen will be traveling across the state until March and will then be set up for auction. Before heading to St. Paul for the winter carnival the snowmen will spend the weekend here in Austin.

"We are excited for everyone to come and celebrate winter with us," Radford said.

The SPAMETTES will perform at 11 a.m. and 3 a.m. and meteorologist Greg Dixon of KAAL-TV will make a guest appearance at 1 p.m., Radford said.

"We are expecting everyone to have a wonderful time," Radford said.

Roxana Orellana can be reached at 434-2214 or by e-mail at :mailto:roxana.orellana@austindailyherald.com