JANUARY THAW
Winterfest benefits from break in the cold
SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. » Event-goers enjoyed a variety of seasonal activities at the third annual Winterfest Weekend.
Ice harvesting, snowmobiling, sledding, s’mores-roasting, ice fishing and horsedrawn sleigh rides were all part of the outdoor fun Saturday and Sunday at Hudson Crossing Park. Hosted by the nonprofit Hudson Crossing Park group, all activities were free.
This year, Winterfest was inspired by the “Secret of the Incredible Frozen Guardians” (also known as the “JustIce League”), a fun crossover between four wintery animated movies. The idea is simply to offer a fun family event to get people outside, organizers said.
“We’re trying to just make it as fun and funny as possible to get people out and enjoy the park on a beautiful
winter day like this, and see all of the things that a lot of local organizations have to offer,” said Hudson Crossing Park co-director Kate Morse.
With warm weather on their side, event organizers estimated the event drew about 200 people throughout the weekend.
“Anytime we get people who have not been here, even that live within 10 miles, that is a win for us,” said board member Julie White.
“The word is spreading that we’re a good place to come all year round,” Morse said, nothing that the park spans parts of Saratoga and Washington counties, including the towns of Schuylerville, Northumberland and Greenwich. “We’re everybody’s park.”
Representatives from the Washington County Draft Animal Association took passengers on horsedrawn rides around the park grounds, but much of the action took place on the frozen-over Champlain Canal. Professionals from Schuyler Hose Co. were giving rescue demonstrations while volunteer Troy White shared the history and how-to of ice harvesting and Tim Blodgett of Saratoga Tackle & Archery helped participants drill their own fishing holes with an ice auger.
Over at the pavilion, there was a warming hut and hot food available from Schuylerville’s 9 Miles East Farm.
Schuylerville mom Lisa McCorkell heard about Winterfest Weekend from the park newsletter, and she liked that it was a bit different from other winter carnivals in the area.
“It looked like a fun event, and it was such nice weather today,” she said after watching her 9-year-old son drill an ice fishing hole.
The VanDerwerken family from Ballston Lake was checking out Hudson Crossing Park for the first time Sunday.
“It’s the doldrums of winter,” said Jennifer VanDerwerken while waiting to hop on a horsedrawn carriage ride with her sons, ages 7 and 2. “We were just looking to take advantage of the relatively lovely weather, compared to what we’ve had.”