The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
WARMTH HELPS FROZEN FEST
A record crowd attends the annual event due to sun and warm temperatures
Despite being above freezing, the Geauga Park District’s fourth-annual Frozen Fest on Jan. 28 drew more folks than ever before, organizers report.
The district’s most-popular event benefitted this year from temperatures in the 40s and clear, sunny skies – two ingredients organizers said brought out a record number of visitors.
“We could not be happier about the turnout,” said Geauga Park District special events coordinator Teresa Runion around 2:30 p.m. Jan. 28 inside the West Woods Nature Center as families with children of all ages partook of the various attractions the event offers.
She said the prevailing conditions made for an ideal day to host the event.
“Mother Nature really cooperated with us today,” she said. “We didn’t get a whole lot of frozen at this Frozen Fest. But this balmy weather really brought the people out.”
By the park district’s count shortly before 3 p.m., more than 3,300 people
"Mother Nature really cooperated with us today. We didn’t get a whole lot of frozen at this Frozen Fest. But this balmy weather really brought the people out." — Geauga Park District special events coordinator Teresa Runion
were in attendance.
Three of them – Chester township residents Becky and Grant Batchelor and their 11-monthold son Miles – were suiting up around 2:15 p.m. in the parking lot normally reserved for horse trailers.
The Batchelors said this was the first Geauga Park District event they’d attended since moving to the area in September and were excited to explore it.
“We saw it advertised in the Geauga Park Distinct flier, along with an e-mail,” Becky said. “And, since we’re really always looking for things to do and to take Miles to, we thought it would be a fun event to visit.” Grant agreed. “We’re trying to give (Miles) a variety of experiences, you know: Show him the outdoors and get him interested in these kinds of things,” he said, adding this time of year it’s tough to find much happening in the community.
The Geauga Park District offers a variety of experiences with everything from a live ice-sculpturemaking display and meetand-greets with sled dogs from the Siberian Husky Club of Greater Cleveland, to an exhibit featuring
live reindeer and an otterslides-and-tunnels indoor play feature, among many other attractions and exhibits, it could easily take the entire event schedule to take everything in. Such was pretty much the case for one Middlefield Village family.
“The kids have really been enjoying it,” said Bradley Patton, who brought his 3-year-old daughter Alaina and 6-year-old son Nathan to the event for the first time. “They’ve had a good day. We’ve been here since 11 and they’ve just really been enjoying everything.”
He said it’s great that the park district offers such a big event, with so many exhibits and attractions, free of charge.
“Yeah. I’d definitely invite all our friends to come check it out,” he said. “I mean, it’s free. The kids are really enjoying it and it’s something to do. It’s just good family fun and you sure can’t beat the price.”
Runion said it’s comments from families like the Batchelors and the Pattons that are music to the Geauga Park District’s ears, especially because they’re first-time visitors to a Geauga Park District event.
“It’s a great opportunity to connect with folks who might not otherwise know about us,” she said.
She added that as the event has evolved, organizers have offered different
exhibits from year to year, as well as maintaining staples like face painting, ice carving and a children’s’ craft-making exhibit.
“These are all crowd favorites we have year-toyear,” she said. “But we like to mix it up a little bit and add new attractions, as well.”
She confirmed Jan. 28 was the event’s most wellattended installment and gave credit not only to the pleasant weather this year, but also to good timing.
“Its timing is perfect because there aren’t a whole lot of options for families this time of year,” she said. “And it’s nice that it’s free. It doesn’t cost one red cent ad that’s always attractive.”
Outside, Bainbridge Township resident Heidi Cregar was having a ball with her niece, three-yearold Cora Bergman from Twinsburg who was smiling ear-to-ear for a portrait with winter princesses Anna and Elsa and Olaf the snowman.
“Oh, I think this is awesome,” Cregar said. “We’ve been coming every year and it gets bigger and better every year. They really do a nice job.”
Like Patton, she said it’s a must-visit event for families and children of all ages.
“I would absolutely recommend this to anyone,” she said.