Seasonality is a huge part of our lives here in Alger County. While we mainly talk about it as part of our economy and infrastructure, seasonality can also have major impacts on what we do for entertainment and health in the Central Upper Peninsula.

With that in mind, think about joining one of the many leagues that will be going on this winter. It could be co-ed volleyball or pickleball at Alger Parks and Rec, the 3-on-3 basketball league in Grand Marais or one of the various card and games leagues held at local bars and restaurants. These leagues are full of fun and can help you stay active and social during the shorter days and longer stretches of cold weather.

Winter rec leagues are crucial for Alger County because they are events for adults. Between the aging population who do not have a connection to youth-centered events in school anymore and young professionals without kids at all, there is a real lack of opportunity to connect with others in a fun way. It is also difficult to find those “kid-free” activities for parents that are looking for fun with other adults.

The infrastructure of a set schedule is a plus, too. With depression and other mental health risks increasing during the winter, getting into a routine with a mental and physical activity is a helpful step towards overall health and wellness.

As a community, it is also beneficial for us to have winter activities. Obviously bars and restaurants will get a boost from pool and card leagues, but sponsoring a team can also highlight your business amongst locals. Larger employers like the hospital, paper mill, law enforcement and schools used to sponsor the teams organized by their employees. We here at the Beacon also put those team sponsors in our box scores, so it is some of the most community- centric advertising available.

Now is around the time that people start organizing teams and scheduling locations for leagues, so start talking with your friends about whether or not you can get a team together. If you can’t and still want to play, reach out to league organizers to see if any groups need alternates or extra players to round out a full team. If you want to play a sport that doesn’t have a league like basketball or darts, see if others would be interested in starting something. That could be a weekly pick-up game or expanding regular pick-up games into something more.

Whether it’s the smooth motions of pickleball, the competitiveness in the Mather Pit or simple conversation while waiting for your turn at the pool table, these leagues provide real positives for you and the community. Let’s have some fun this winter with local rec leagues.