Winter Carnival ready to celebrate 101st year

Activities include fireworks, parade of lights, contests, more

By C ori U rban Special to The Republican

AHUNDRED YEARS AGO ORGA- nizers of the Greenfield Winter Carnival weren’t thinking about climate change and how it might affect the winter fun.

But Christy Moore, Greenfield recreation director, is hoping the first weekend in February sees snow on the ground, no rain and seasonably cold temperatures.

This year’s Greenfield Winter Carnival takes place today and tomorrow.

This will be the 101st Greenfield Winter Carnival, and “it’s a community favorite,” Moore said.

“Last year was our centennial year and we had a lot of cool and different things, and this year we’re back and bringing new and different things,” she continued. “It’s a time to celebrate and have fun with our friends and families.”

New this year is a performance by Party Robot, a glow-in-the dark robot dancing event that “is going to be really cool,” Moore said.

Other activities throughout the weekend include a parade of lights, scavenger hunt, poetry walk, fireworks and a virtual jigsaw puzzle contest.

Winners of the puzzle contest will receive a “Winter Carnival Piece Award.”

The Winter Carnival also will include a family fun fest, winter tales, a laser-mania show, a chili contest, a cookie bakeoff, the K9 keg pull and cardboard sled races.

And Adams Donuts will offer doughnuts with Olaf.

“If you haven’t had any of their doughnuts, you definitely have to drive up here. They are amazing,” Moore said.

Ten ice carvers will create ice sculptures downtown, and the public can vote for favorites.

“We try and blend some of the old traditions (like the ice sculptures) into our modern-day winter carnival,” Moore said. “But we’re at the mercy of the weather.”

Organizers plan activities for the carnival weekend that do involve snow “and hope Mother Nature is on our side,” she said. “We do our best to help the earth and reduce our carbon footprint, and we still plan and hope for the best” weather for the winter carnival. For more information and a full list of activities, go online to greenfieldrecreation. com