15th Winterfest serves up chill-defying events for all ages
January 28, 2025 | By Waterbury RoundaboutSCHEDULE UPDATE 11 a.m. | Jan. 29
Due to the forecasted temperatures on Saturday, Feb. 1, plans for the Winterfest Party in the Park events have been adjusted: Snow volleyball has been canceled. Snow Sports: Soccer and Lacrosse for kids has been moved to Brookside gymnasium and will begin at 11 a.m.
Winter Bocce, the fat bike demo, and the VT Beer Shepherd tasting have all been moved to the Winterfest Block Party events on Friday, Jan. 31, on Elm Street. The bocce tournament will begin at 5 p.m. Registration is still open here.
Note that the Waterbury Winterfest website will have all of the latest details ahead of events.
As January draws to a close, Waterbury celebrates winter regardless of what Mother Nature dishes out.
Who says bocce can’t be played on snow? Try it at Winterfest. File photo by Gordon Miller
This Wednesday, Jan. 29, the 15th Waterbury Winterfest opens with outdoor and indoor events running through Sunday, Feb. 2.
The fun takes place across more than a dozen locations around town with familiar long-time favorite events such as Bluegrass Night, the VT Beer Quiz, wassailing, sledding, fat bikes, snow bocce, volleyball and soccer, and a long-distance snowshoe hike/ski.
New additions to the schedule include a winter block party on Elm Street on Friday, an ice skating Disco Party at the Ice Center rink on Saturday, and a 3v3 basketball tournament at Brookside Primary School this weekend, too.
The entire five-day schedule is posted online at WaterburyWinterfest.com.
Festivities begin Wednesday with Bluegrass Night at Blackback Pub and the VT Beer Quiz at Pro Pig. On Thursday, wassailing ensembles regale diners/audiences at multiple downtown venues before heading to the American Legion for their finale accolades.
On Friday, Winterfest holds its inaugural block party on Elm Street, spearheaded by Prohibition Pig general manager Jon Luciano. The event will have beer and wine tastings, savory small plates by local chefs, a DJ, and a fat bike demo and time trial. Winterfest volunteers will hold a live auction for a 2021 Kona Wo fat bike (original retail $1,700). Inside the Vermont Beer Collective and Wine Vault (now combined on Elm Street), revelers can enjoy beverage tastings while perusing and bidding on local merchandise and gift cards in a silent auction.
A handful of events require advance registration for planning purposes or because of space limitations. As of Monday, there were still openings for Intro to TRX (Total Resistance Exercises), Bocce Tournament (has a team entry fee), and the Basketball event (team entry fee).
All other events are free and open to everyone, with donations appreciated. Spectators are also invited to all Winterfest events.
This year’s Winterfest presenting sponsor is the Edward Jones offices of Colchester, South Burlington, and Waterbury/Barre. All medal sponsors and silent auction contributors are listed on the Winterfest Sponsors page.
A schedule summary is listed below. Find the full calendar with event details and online signup forms at the Winterfest schedule of events. The website also will be updated during Winterfest should there be any last-minute changes due to weather or other circumstances.
2025 WATERBURY WINTERFEST SCHEDULE
Wednesday, Jan. 29
5 p.m. – Bluegrass Night at Pro Pig Brewery
7 p.m. – VT Beer Quiz at Blackback Pub
Thursday, Jan. 30
5:30 p.m. - The Lost Ski Areas of Waterbury– Waterbury Historical Society Presentation at the Steele Community Room in the municipal building
6 p.m. – Wassailing at various locations
Last year’s wassailing crew. Photo by Gordon Miller
Friday, Jan. 31
3-7 p.m. - Winterfest Block Party on Elm Street
Saturday, February 1
9:30 a.m. – Intro to TRX with trainer Joey Clark
10 a.m. – Winter KidsFest at the Waterbury Public Library
10 a.m. - 4 p.m. – PARTY IN THE PARK events at Rusty Parker Memorial Park and State Complex Horseshoe
Kids play snow soccer at last year’s Winterfest. Photo by Gordon Miller
7 p.m. – Ice Skating Disco at The Ice Center
Sunday, February 4
10 a.m. - 3v3 Basketball Tournament at Brookside Primary School Gym
10 a.m. - Sled & S’mores at Dac Rowe Pavilion
11 a.m. – Valentine Card-Making at Seminary Arts Center
Cross-country skiers on last year’s Winterfest Descent hike from Blush Hill Country Club to Little River. Photo by Maureen McCracken
11 a.m. – Connector Trail Descent: Ski & Snowshoe Tour begins at Blush Hill Country Club to Little River State Park
1 p.m. – Family-Friendly BINGO! at Waterbury Area Senior Center
2 p.m. – Big Games (including Candyland!) at Steele Community Room, municipal building
Waterbury Winterfest is a volunteer-run, non-profit annual celebration with indoor and outdoor winter recreation events that bring community members and visitors together to beat the mid-winter blues. All proceeds from events and sponsorships support scholarships, grants, and recreational activities in Waterbury throughout the year.