Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Winter Festival - there will be Ice and Snow no matter what Mother Nature does!!

The Walton Fairgrounds will be transformed into a celebration of winter in true Northeastern style for the 3rd Annual Winter Festival on Saturday, January 21, 2012. 

The event will feature a spectacular ice carving competition, with carvers from the American Culinary Federation and including Delaware County's own SUNY Delhi Ice Carvers competing against one another and Mother Nature. Beautiful forms to local business logos will be carved that day.Competitors will be toting chainsaws, chisels, blowtorches, and other special tools of the trade. Top professional ice carvers will judge the sculptors and crown a champion by day's end.
 
     This one-day, family-oriented festival will also feature a horse-drawn carriage and sleigh exhibition, figure skating demonstration, ice skating, snowmobile races, wood carving competition, and children’s’ winter-related activities. Food vendors will be on-site to make sure everyone has a warm and full belly!

     Registration for the snowmobile races will begin at 8 a.m., and the festival opens at 9 a.m. The Hamden Hill Ridge Riders will collect $5 per person at the gate; half of the funds will be designated for Delaware County flood victims.  This event is sponsored by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, the Hamden Hill Ridge Riders, the Walton Chamber of Commerce, Mang Insurance Agency and the Watershed Post.

The Winter Festival and ice makes us think about the Hanford Mills Ice Harvest festival coming on its heels on February 4th - so mark that date as well.  There's always winter fun on tap in the Great Western Catskills of Delaware County. Check out another great winter blog we love - Winter In The Catskills!!