Winterfest set for Saturday in Wilton
WILTON, N.Y. » Wilton is ready for winter and inviting people to come celebrate the season at the annual Winterfest this weekend at Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park.
The festival — scheduled from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday with events at Camp Saratoga, located at 80 Scout Rd. in Wilton — is a day of fun activities to celebrate getting outdoors in winter.
The day will kick-off with the 15th annual Camp Saratoga 8K Snowshoe Race, part of the Dion Winter Series. On-site registration will begin at 9:15 a.m. and the race begins at 10:30 a.m..
With the recent snow, the trails are expected be in great shape and the Preserve & Park will be renting out snowshoes and cross country skis for the duration of the festival. Rentals are $5 per person or free to members of Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park. Equipment is available in sizes for both children and adults, so the whole family can get out together to enjoy some winter fun.
Activities during Winterfest will include a bonfire with hot cocoa and s’mores, an animal tracking walk beginning at noon, and a winter tree walk beginning at 1 p.m.
There will be activities in the Winter Lodge beginning at 1:30 p.m. These will include an animal track activity, a display on animals of the Preserve & Park, and a trees-in-winter nature craft.
For those interested in ice fishing, a display including both old ice fishing equipment and modern rigs, will also be available with information on different kinds of rigs and bait for different kinds of fish.
The day will finish with a snowman building contest at 2 p.m. near the Winter Lodge. After judging all snowmen, prizes will be announced at a 3 p.m. ceremony concluding Winterfest.
The Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park is a non-profit organization that conserves ecological systems and natural settings while providing opportunities for environmental education and outdoor recreation.
“It is a big part of our mission to get people outdoors both to appreciate the beauty of the natural world and to improve their health and wellness,” said Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park executive director Margo Olson. “People in our area might be getting a little tired of winter and we hope to encourage them to see how fun it is to get out and enjoy the snow and the winter.”
For more information on Winterfest, contact the Preserve & Park office at (518) 450-0321 or via email at info@wiltonpreserve.org.
For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, visit the Preserve & Park’s website at www.wiltonpreserve.org.