A brave soul dives into frigid water during last year’s Freeze Fest. The annual Polar Plunge raises money for Special Olympics. Terry Mayer/Photo

WHITEWATER — It isn’t the Iditarod, Alaska’s famous 1,150-mile sled-dog race, but kids can catch a ride in a dog-drawn cart from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday at Whitewater’s Irvin L. Young Library during the city’s annual Freeze Fest.

The rides, now in their third year at the festival, are part of a library-sponsored presentation on snow and sled dogs, and have become a perennially popular attraction, according to youth services director Cathy Bloom.

Riders are loaded into carts and wagons inside the library lobby, and the dogs head out the front door, kids in tow. After each ride, the dogs return through the building’s back entrance, sometimes surprising library patrons.

“The kids just think it’s a hoot, because how often do you see dogs in here? It offers a different perspective of what you’d normally think of a library,” Bloom said.

In addition to the rides, dog trainer Jim Perry will give a talk in the library’s community room, discussing the dogs used in the program and different breeds in general. He also will explain how dogs can be trained to be more than family pets.

Perry teaches carting classes at For Pet’s Sake Dog Training in Mukwonago. He said many people are amazed that the dogs can pull the kids so easily.

Carmine, a registered therapy dog and one of the participants in the program, is built for the job. The rottweiler weighs 130 pounds and has a 26-inch neck.

“He can pull the kids for an hour and then give me a ride,” Perry said.

The rottweiler again will be at the program, along with a standard schnauzer, a greater Swiss mountain dog, a Siberian husky and possibly a German shepherd. All of the dogs, and their owners, have attended Perry’s classes.

Perry, who says he’s “never lost the thrill of riding with a dog,” also plans to bring Marco, his Italian greyhound, who is trained to pull a wagon both on and off a leash. Although Marco is too small to give rides, he demonstrates wagon-pulling and does a few tricks.

While waiting for a ride, kids can enjoy refreshments and watch “Snow Dogs,” a 2002 Walt Disney movie about an Alaskan sled-dog race, being shown at the library.

In addition, Bloom will have a selection of library books available for checkout on snow and sled dogs, the North Pole and just about anything associated with the Arctic.

Besides the sled-dog program, the festival offers such family-friendly activities as open skating at Big Brick Park, a kids’ fishing derby at Trippe Lake and a pancake breakfast at the armory.

At noon, the Polar Plunge will raise money for Special Olympics Wisconsin. The plunge offers prime people-watching, since contest categories include best costume and best entrance into the water.

Whitewater Historical Society’s Depot Museum, with exhibits that trace the history of the city and outlying areas, will be open during the day.

Other events include a chili cook-off in Cravath Lakefront Park, horse-drawn wagon rides, and special discounts at downtown businesses.

Tags: Lake Geneva