Deer Park Boosters Hoping For Snow Frosting On Fest

Deer Park wants just a little bit of snow for its 12th annual Deer Park Winter Festival.

Too much snow, and people will stay away. Too little, and the popular snowshoe softball game gets axed.

“Hope for just a couple of inches,” said festival organizer Bette Cox.

The annual celebration is one of the most complete winter events in the Western United States, with indoor and outdoor activities, according to the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce.

And the best part for some is that it’s free.

“It’s a good family weekend because you can come and not spend a dime,” said Cox.

The festival kicks off Friday at 6 p.m. with an opening ceremony, fireworks show and free barbershop quartet concert.

Outside, activities on Saturday and Sunday include snowshoe softball, a 5K run, a treasure hunt, dog-sled pulls, the popular outhouse race and a snow-sculpture contest.

The softball game and sculpture contest would be canceled if there is insufficient snow. The dog sleds have special wheels that can be attached to run on bare ground, Cox said.

Inside at the Deer Park Civic Center, people can take part in a beer garden and enjoy food booths, adult dance classes, an art show, a book sale, a chili contest and a pancake feed.

There are also lots of free activities for children.

Movies will be shown Friday and Saturday at Deer Park Elementary School. A broom ball game and children’s karaoke contest will be held Saturday.

A $15 registration fee for the 5K foot race includes a T-shirt. Most other activities are free.

For more information, call Cox at 276-2941.

, DataTimes