Winterfest

Jack Frost brings fun!

Blowing Rock’s WinterFest offers family friendly, seasonal fun for young and young at heart

BY DAVID ROGERS

david.rogers@mountaintimes.com

Ahhh. Late January in Blowing Rock. Bitter cold. Icy sidewalks. Maybe even shoveling knee-deep — or deeper — snow from driveways.

Well, it’s a good thing we have Blowing Rock WinterFest from Jan. 27 to 30, 2022, to warm things up with some fun of the season!

Orchestrated and produced by the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce in concert with numerous community, civic and nonprofit organizations (with proceeds going to charitable causes), WinterFest is a wintertime experience not to be missed. Thousands come to Blowing Rock on WinterFest weekend to take part in the “mini-events” that make up the whole. “WinterFest gives our visitors and local residents alike the opportunity to enjoy the fun

Evening bonfires burn at Chetola Resort during a past WinterFest.

PHOTO BY DAVID ROGERS Town Tavern on Main Street has become a fixture in Blowing Rock’s hospitality industry. One reason is its participation in fun community events and activities, such as this ice sculpture entry in the 2019 WinterFest. PHOTO SUBMITTED

side of winter,” said Suzy Barker, events director for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. Blowing Rock has ice sculptures featured in front of participating businesses and in Memorial Park beginning Friday, Jan. 28, through the weekend. These renowned ice carvers WOW spectators with their live carving demonstration on Saturday, Jan. 29.

“That’s free and fun, seeing the creativity they bring to those. And there are several ice carving demonstrations, all free, throughout the weekend, too,” said Barker.

By Saturday, Jan. 29, activities are in full swing.

“Nothing warms the mind, body and soul like a good Chili Challenge, and thanks to The Rotary Club of Blowing Rock, several competing restaurants will be putting up their best efforts,” said

SEE WINTERFEST ON PAGE 52

PHOTO BY ANDREW COLE Entrees such as Hellbender’s Carolina Burger were served up with draft beer or a glass of wine as part of the WinterFest restaurant crawl.

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Barker. “All proceeds go to Rotary’s various charitable causes, and they range from Hospitality House and the Hunger Coalition to OASIS, and toward a host of other great needs.”

Ever wonder what it would be like as a frontiersman or Native American in 1700?

“Mystery Hill hosts the WinterHawk tomahawk throwing competition in which anyone can participate,” said Barker. “Before you holler out a war howl as you throw at the target and hit a bullseye, imagining that it is the enemy (or tonight’s dinner) coming into view on the trail ahead, make sure that gentleman throwing in the lane next to you isn’t wearing a hearing aid!”

There is so much more to WinterFest. The Polar Plunge is expected to be back with a splash into Chetola Lake! If you’re one of the brave, sign up before it’s too late, as limited space is available.

Coming out of the pandemic, some features of WinterFest are still evolving. Stay up to date with the WinterFest schedule of events from Jan. 27 to 30 at www.blowingrockwinterfest.com.

FILE PHOTO Brad Parrott of Mint Hill, S.C. jumps into Chetola Lake as part of the Polar Bear Plunge. FILE PHOTO Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce members and nonprofit representatives pose with a check for $26,500, raised from the Blowing Rock WinterFest events from Jan. 23 to 26, 2020. Pictured are PJ Wirchansky, Karen Marinelli, Patti Jupiter, Caroline Davis, Jennifer Brown, Zak Amar, Rhona Smith, Mike Page, Joyce Zellner, Dana Clark, Zika Rea, Emily Brinker, Todd Carter and Ronnie Mark.

FILE PHOTO Curtis Thompson and his dog Charlie Thompson take part in a race at the K9 Keg Pull at the 2020 Blowing Rock WinterFest on Saturday, Jan. 23. PHOTO BY DAVID ROGERS Bigfoot made an appearance on Main Street, in front of Sunset Tees & Hattery for WinterFest 2021.