Deer Park Fest Celebrates Winter

The cures for the winter blues and cabin fever are said to be found in Deer Park this weekend at the 11th annual Deer Park Winter Festival.

The three-day, family-oriented event begins tonight with a bonfire and opening ceremonies at 6 p.m.

It’s a wonderful way families can get out of the house and spend time together in the winter elements. After all, winter may bring cold weather, but it comes only once a year.

Because the snow is rapidly melting in the area, some of the snow events, including snowshoe softball, cross-country ski race and snow sculpturing contest, may either be canceled or altered. In fact, organizers of the festival are gathering swim flippers in case they need to replace the snowshoes for the softball games.

Most of the activities at the Winter Festival are free.

Today’s activities feature a free movie, “Aladdin,” at Deer Park Elementary School.

An art show, which continues through the weekend, will be held at the Deer Park City Hall.

Saturday’s events are kicked off bright and early with a pancake breakfast at 7 a.m.

The starting gun for the 5K Frostbite Foot Race goes off at 9 a.m. The starting line is at the Civic Center.

Snowshoe (or swim flipper) softball games will run throughout the day and continue Sunday.

One of the festival’s strongest draws, the dog weight pulls, takes place at 1 p.m. Saturday and 10:30 a.m Sunday.

From 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., there will be an adult dance/beer garden at the Deer Park Fair Building. Good ‘n’ Plenty entertains. Admission is $5.

Other Saturday events include broom ball, cross-country skiing (weather permitting), a second showing of “Aladdin,” and an Ice Sculpture Demonstration.

Sunday begins with yet another pancake breakfast at 8 a.m.

Other highlights Sunday day are a treasure hunt, llama rides, dog weight pulls and an outhouse race.