Waterbury Winterfest packed with events

Waterbury Recreation will sponsor the annual Winterfest celebration from Friday, Jan. 30, to Sunday, Feb. 8.

New this year is a window-decorating contest for local businesses. Local merchants, eateries and offices have been encouraged to decorate their storefronts and entryways with a “Winter Wonderful & Fun” theme.

Winterfest will list entries with photos of the decorated windows on its website and ask the public to vote for their favorites. On Sunday, Feb. 8, judges will select the winners and announce them at the Winterfest closing ceremonies. Decorations must be completed by Jan. 30.

Here’s a rundown on the Winterfest events, everything from a play reading to skating to a storytelling championship to snowshoe excursions and ice sculpting.

Friday-Saturday, Jan. 23-24

7 p.m., White Meeting House, 8 N. Main St., Waterbury, Moxie productions presents a reading of “August: Osage County,” a play by Tracy Letts, performed by local actors. Free.

Friday, Jan. 30

5 p.m., Winterfest opening ceremony and ice sculpting demonstration, on Stowe Street. Chris and Heidi Fish, ice carvers from Northwoods Ice Craft and co-owners of The Blue Stone, will carve an ice sculpture for Winterfest.

6 to 8 p.m., skating party and Christmas tree bonfire at Anderson Park outdoor skating rink. Skating starts at 6, the bonfire at 7. Cocoa and cookies will be served by the fire.

7 to 10 p.m., Tell-Off Extempo at American Legion Post 59 on Stowe Street. The annual Storytelling Championship of Central Vermont. $10 at the door.

Saturday, Jan. 31

8:30 a.m., two cross-country ski events at Dac Rowe Field.

• Recreational skiing on groomed trails for all ages and abilities. Bring your own skis. Instruction is scheduled at 8:30 for cross-country skiing and at 10 for telemark.

• Learn to cross-country ski between 8:30 and 10. Basic course, no experience necessary. Get comfortable on short loops. Bring your own skis, water and a light snack.

10 to 4, coed Family Broomball Tournament at the Waterbury Recreation Center outdoor skating rink. Broomball is similar to hockey but without skates; played with five people and a goalie on the ice. Players wear their own boots/shoes and helmets are strongly encouraged. Goals, sticks and balls provided. Register teams at waterburywinterfest.com or call 802-345-5728 or email waterbury.winterfest@gmail.com.

10 a.m., Volleyball Tourney kickoff at Anderson Recreation Field. Field will be narrowed for the playoffs Feb. 8. Family and adult teams. Register by Jan 23 at bit.ly/wburyvolleyball. Also, pickup games from 10 to 4.

10 a.m., Ice Bucket Disc Golf Challenge at Hope Davey Recreation Field in Waterbury Center. Disc golf tournament will raise money and collect food for local food shelves.

10 to 4, snowshoe demonstrations at CCOutdoorStore on Route 2 west.

10 to 1, Winterfest Sledding Party at Country Club of Vermont. Bring sleds and warm clothing.

5:30 to 7:30 p.m., sled hockey, with the Sled Cats vs. Waterbury All Stars at the Ice Center. Former varsity hockey heroes will be humbled by the paraplegic Vermont Sled Cats.

7 to 9:30 p.m., family-friendly, game-show-style trivia with questions drawn from the community and Waterbury history. Teams of four will compete for prizes. Register in advance; $60 per team of four to six; pay at the door.

Sunday, Feb. 1

9 a.m., 5K Fun Run. Register at 8:30 a.m. at Thatcher Brook Primary School. Meet at Meet at Recreational Center. Families, kids and friends welcome to compete on a village loop at distances between half a kilometer and 5K. Awards for top finishers in age and distance categories.

10 to 4, backcountry ski at Little River State Park. Gentle climb up Stevenson Brook trail to the site of Waterbury’s “Last Block Sawmill,” an excellent place to have some lunch. Ski back to the trailhead on a wide, snowy trail. Three-hour tour covering roughly 4.5 miles. Park and meet up at the end of the plowed road at the base of the Waterbury Dam.

1 to 3 p.m., snow football at Dac Rowe Field. Great atmosphere-setter for the Super Bowl. Two-hand touch for ages 10 and older.

Monday, Feb. 2

7 a.m., Woodchuck Day with Tom Beardsley at Rusty Parker Park. Waterbury’s answer to Ground Hog Day with the folks from WDEV. Costumes encouraged.

5 to 8 p.m., night volleyball at Anderson Recreation Field. Still part of round one in this single-elimination tournament.

Tuesday, Feb. 3

6 to 8 p.m., poetry slam at Bridgeside Books on Stowe Street. Open microphone. Bring original work, read a favorite poem, or share a song or a story — very few rules. Donations requested to cover this cider and cheese event.

8 to 10 p.m., Vermont IPA Blind Taste Testing at Blackback Pub. Six local IPAs for blind tasting. Tasting cost per participant: $10. Winner gets $50 gift certificate to Blackback Pub.

Wednesday, Feb. 4

6 to 8 p.m., wassail in Waterbury Village — think caroling with a streak of cabin fever. Singing groups will rotate through Waterbury watering holes before congregating at Cork on Stowe Street for a finale of songs, awards and libations. All are welcome. To join an organized singing or judging group, email alec@atomd.com. Wassailing rotations begin at participating establishments (on Main Street: Old Stagecoach Inn, The Reservoir, Arvads, Blackback Pub; on Stowe Street: American Legion, Cork) at 6 p.m.

5:15 p.m., hockey doubleheader, with Harwood High varsity girls’ team hosting North Country at the Ice Center at 5:15, and Harwood boys hosting Mt. Mansfield at 7:15. Cory Beard’s jazz band plays between games.

7 to 8 p.m., Moonlight Snowshoe at Blush Hill Country Club. Bring a headlamp and snowshoes. Meet at 7 at Blush Hill Country Club. Free snowshoe demos will also available from CCOutdoorStore; limited availability; reserve by Feb. 3 by emailing info@ccoutdoorstore.com.

Thursday, Feb. 5

7 to 9 p.m., Moonlight Ski at Dac Rowe Athletic Field. Bring a headlamp, skis and a star chart.

6 to 8 p.m., Winter Words — acrostic poetry and art at Waterbury Public Library. Create acrostic poems on a winter theme, then use a variety of art materials to illustrate the poem. Ages 8 to adult.

Friday, Feb. 6

5 to 8 p.m., free beer tasting at Craft Beer Cellar on Elm Street. Beer stories and lore, too. On-site purchase of growlers, and other beer products available.

6 to 8 p.m., Chess Tourney at Waterbury Recreation Building. Child, teen and adult divisions. $5 registration fee to cover cost of prizes, snacks and hot chocolate.

6 to 8 p.m., Winter Fun Window Contest Judging. Visitors to downtown Waterbury can vote on their favorite window decorations at waterburywinterfest.com. Winners announced Feb. 8 at Winterfest Closing Ceremonies.

Saturday, Feb. 7

19th annual Winter Trails Day at Green Mountain Club, Route 100, Waterbury Center. Hiking times at greenmountainclub.org. Bonfire at 3 p.m. with music, food and beer. For kids: snow sculptures, scavenger hunts, indoor crafts and s’mores. $10 adults, free for kids 12 and under.

11 a.m. to 4 p.m., first descent on the Connector Trail at Blush Hill Country Club. Bring backcountry skis or snowshoes for first descent of the proposed Little River Connector Trail from Waterbury village to Little River Road. Four-mile exploration on informal trails and a snowmobile trail, with several steep downhills. An hour to ski, three hours to snowshoe. Extra layers, snack and water necessary. Meet at Blush Hill Country Club parking lot.

10 a.m. to 4 p.m., free snowshoe demonstrations at CC Outdoor Store on Route 2 West.

2 to 4 p.m., Perry Hill snowshoe tour, leaving from Ice Center parking lot. Explore the trails of Perry Hill. Steep but short climbs.

7 to 10 p.m., Green Mountain Club Winterfest Bash. Games, campfire, 50/50 raffle, prizes, music, dancing, contests. $7 per person at the door.

Sunday, Feb. 8

Noon to 2, backcountry ski and snowshoe on Perry Hill.

11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., volleyball tourney championships and community pickup games on the Ice Center grounds. Awards for adult and family team champions.

11 to 2:30, timed snowshoe racing on grounds at the Ice Center. Prizes for age groups.

11 to 2:30, snowman contest and snow painting (snow permitting) on grounds at the ice center. Build a creative snow sculpture or snow fort, or draw fanciful creations. Prizes for sculptures/forts and paintings. Judging at 2 p.m.

11 to 2:30, snowball throwing contest at Ice Center grounds. Test of distance and accuracy. Prizes for age groups.

Also, 11 to 2:30, self-guided snowshoe or walk, dog park play.

3 to 3:45 p.m., public skating party and closing ceremony at the Ice Center. First Peg O’Neil Participation Award will go to the person who came out to play the most at Winterfest.

4 p.m., awards in Window Decorating Contest, plus closing ceremonies at the Ice Center.