Winterfest 2023 wrap up and thanks
Feb. 10, 2023 | By Roger Clapp 
On behalf of the leadership team, I'd like to thank all who participated, sponsored and supported a successful 12th annual Waterbury Winterfest. The online Wanderlust Challenge introduced during the pandemic returned with several avid teams competing for prizes donated by our local Waterbury merchants.
With the usual topsy-turvy weather of late January/early February, our opening event became our closing event with a magical performance by the Celtic Company dance troupe of Green Mountain Performing Arts under the lights at Anderson Rink. A huge shout-out to the Town of Waterbury for getting the ice in for the family skate party and attracting strong participation in the popular Ice Jug Curling and Human Bowling events.
Earlier in the week, Wyatt O'Brien and his Rec staff also helped with Broomball and a new sledding event on Cougar Mountain at Crossett Brook Middle School while the Waterbury Ambulance Service team administered over 15 COVID-19 boosters inside CBMS. The Children's Room ran their sledding event for younger kids next to the Waterbury Public Library which hosted an indoors puzzles and games event away from the elements.
MakerSphere introduced a fun new Candy Land game and the Senior Center was filled to capacity with a family-friendly Bingo event. As mentioned in the last edition, 25 brave souls skied and snowshoed from Blush Hill down to Little River and the Fun Run returned under new management. Throughout the week, people entered the raffle to win a brand new snowboard donated by Burton. By some odd stroke of fate, the winning raffle ticket was the first one sold – to Sue Minter of Waterbury Center.
On Tuesday, the Blackback Pub tested the taste buds of 15 discerning beer drinkers and on Wednesday, the ProPig Brewery treated patrons to the tunes of their new house bluegrass band. Five singing groups competed at five venues throughout downtown Waterbury on Thursday in the iconic Winterfest Wassailing competition with judges and participants convening at the American Legion for prizes and trophy - won this year by Grizzwold and the Deutsche Bears.
Temperatures plummeted on Friday and Saturday, forcing us to reschedule all outdoor events to Sunday. However, an avid crowd showed up for the Snow Ball Dance party sponsored by the Alchemist at Zenbarn with the joyful tunes of Still Kickin’ and special guest, sax man Joe Moore.
On the final day, the Winterfest Party in the Park began with fat tire bike demo rides offered by both Bicycle Express and Pinnacle Sports with all 19 bikes going out on the snow. Waterbury Youth Soccer and Capital Soccer joined forces for a spirited match of snow soccer followed by a bit of snow football.
Back at Rusty Parker Park, town staff had cleared the snow for Waterbury's co-ed volleyball players to organize a game. Perhaps most popular was the new bocce tournament with 32 contestants across eight teams competing under the watchful eye of Pat Travers, organizer of the Mad River Bocce League. After a strong performance by Revitalizing Waterbury, MakerSphere and Hysterical Historian teams, the Jerry Garcia Memorial Bocce Team of Burlington won top honors.
Thanks to Waterbury Rotary for providing access to the gazebo both powering music for the Party in the Park and serving as the tasting stand for Big Tree Brewing by the Reservoir and Vermont Beer Shepherd.
Waterbury Winterfest leaders will be meeting with event organizers to assess this year's performance and start thinking of plans for next year. Suggestions and volunteers are always welcome. Email us at waterbury.winterfest@gmail.com.
Thanks again to all.
Roger Clapp is president of Waterbury Winterfest.
Behind the scenes: Making a Vermont Candy Land
A new event at Waterbury Winterfest this year was the life-sized Candy Land game played on the final day inside the Steele Community Room at the town offices. The giant gameboard was a labor of love by the artists at MakerSphere. They shared some behind-the-scenes photos and video clips showing how that came together. When it came time to play, a couple dozen youngsters gathered to use tiny stuffed animals as game pieces. And yes, there was plenty of candy.