North Adams WinterFest is This Saturday

It's time for North Adams' 22nd Annual WinterFest Celebration. A full lineup of indoor and outdoor, family-friendly activities will be going on this Saturday.

Some of the highlights include Ice Carving on Main St. and Fun in the Snow at Colegrove Park from 9 A.M. to 4 P.M., weather permitting. From 10-3 be sure to check out the Farmer & Artisan Market inside 66 Main St. featuring over 30 vendors and live music by Sandy & Sandy from 11-2. Local prepared food and beverages will be for sale too.

New to Winterfest this year is the Bright Ideas Brewing Homebrew Competition at 66 Main from 10 A.M.to 2 P.M. Bright Ideas Brewing welcomes homebrewers to enter their best brew in this competition, which will have judges tasting the submissions. Deadline to enter your homebrew is 10 A.M. Saturday.

A returning favorite is the Chowder Cook-off from Noon-2 at The Green, 85 Main St. Free samplings of delicious "chowdahs" from this year’s competitors will be supplied so you can vote for your favorite. Pro tip: don't expect just regular clam chowder, since one of the awards will be for the unique "Only in North Adams" entry.

The First Baptist Church invites you into their Eagle Street Room from 11– 1 for a Children’s Winter Carnival. There's also hot cocoa, cookies, and robotics with Mc Cann Tech students at MountainOne at 93 Main, a Community Campfire blazing away on Holden St., and free horse-drawn wagon rides on Main St., starting in front of MountainOne from 1 to 3 P.M.

Just off the downtown area, at 69 Union St. J Star Gymnastics will host a free Open Gym from 11– 1:30. The day winds down with another annual tradition: Free ice skating & skate rentals at the city's Peter W. Foote Vietnam Veterans Memorial Skating Rink from 2 - 4.

All of this free WinterFest fun is thanks to the generosity of sponsors Greylock Federal Credit Union, MountainOne, First Hartford Realty, and the Green. Complete info can be found online at the WinterFest Facebook page or by calling 413-664-6180. You can also hear a full rundown of events this Thursday morning at 8:30, when Suzy Helme, North Adams Director of Community Events will be our Community Insight guest on WNAW.