Winterfest
It's time to celebrate, not hibernate

Hang onto your hat, grab a pillow for your backside and stock up on the anti-acids - its time for Winterfest - Blowing Rock’s unique celebration of winter that calls everyone within hundreds of miles to celebrate, not hibernate!
Winterfest 2007 begins today, Thursday, January 25, with downtown merchants of Blowing Rock pulling out all the stops to reduce their inventory. Winterfest fans know it as an All Day Shop ‘til You Drop and it not only involved downtown but stretches to Tanger Center’s Shoppes on the Parkway just north of Main Street.
After all that shopping what better place to warm up and rest that joining in what has become a “dream meal of a lifetime” for patrons of WinterFeast, a cacophony of culinary delights. All the fine restaurants of the Blowing Rock area come together to present a menu that is made up of their finest dishes. No less than five seating are required to accommodate the demands and advance reservations can be made at Winterfest headquarters downtown at the museum or at the Hayes Center on Valley Boulevard, or call 295-9627 to reserve your space at a table at either 5:30, 6, 6:30, 7 or 7:30 p.m. at the historic Green Park Inn. Checks, cash or charge cards are accepted at the door and a cash bar will be available.
After a good night’s rest, Friday will continue the Shop ‘Til You Drop at Shoppes on the Parkway and downtown. The Hayes Center, in keeping with the Winterfest theme, will present two showings (2:30 and 7 p.m.) of the hit movie Cool Runnings at the Wilson Theatre at Hayes. Admission to watch the Jamaican Bobsled team participate in the winter olympics in Calgary, on the giant screen, is only $5.
Back along Main Street Winterfest volunteers will be serving free hot chocolate and at 3 p.m. MountainView Realty’s free hay rides will begin from north Main Street near the Highway 221 intersection. As the sun sets, weather permitting, a giant bonfire will be lit in Memorial Park on Main and Winterfest fans can enjoy toasting marshmallows or smores on the open fire. All supplies are provided.
Day three of Winterfest, Saturday, January 27 is a daylight til midnight festival day of fun and games - both for watching or participating.
Of course, merchants continue their Shop ‘Til You Drop special sales, and at 10 a.m. children’s activities get underway at the Parks and Rec center at the rear of Memorial Park. Parents can accompany their children for activities that include cookie making, costume photos, face painting, and a host of other special events and activities.
10 a.m. also signals the opening of the assembly room at the Community Library on Park Avenue. A raffle and silent auction has left this large room filled with opportunities, to buy, to win, or simply to enjoy viewing.
But the big news on Saturday will be at Chetola Resort at 10 a.m. when the most popular event of any Winterfest, will be held in the frigid waters of Chetola Lake. The brave and the crazy will take the plunge into the lake, one at a time (or in pairs), each sporting a special costume or theme fitting the occasion. Fans can bring their camera to watch and take pictures or their costume to decide at the last minute to take the leap in the slush around a hole chopped in the ice. It’s the number one spectator event of Winterfest, and that reputation has been developed by both those watching and those plunging.
Back in town hay rides and free hot chocolate are again the order of the day, and the kids can return to the Rec Center for more fun and games.
Those coming from the Polar Plunge at Chetola will join those who didn’t go or jump at the Blowing Rock School gym on Morris Street for the 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Chili Challenge, a competitive event between amateurs and professional chefs to determine who can make the best chili of 2007 and walk away with the Chili Championship trophy.
Fans can taste all the chili their heart(burn) desires, plus listen to live music to help the chili go down. There is a nominal cost of $7 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.
Back outside and into the chill of mid-day fans will make their way to Memorial Park where championship ice carving competition is underway (12 noon). This is serious work, folks - as the best in the business take a giant block of ice and transform it to a work of art using only chainsaws, handsaws, irons, drills, and a few speciality tools. Ice Sen-sations sponsors this free competition and exhibit.
At 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. children and adults alike can return to Hayes Auditorium for the Blowing Rock Stage Company’s Rocket Players presentation of “Wintertale” - this year titled Who Threw the Overalls in Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder or You Are What You Eat.. This fun and goofy show is especially produced for Winterfest fans who will be transported from Blowing Rock to the Klondike. Adult admission is $5 and children are admitted for $3.
At 2 p.m. fans will make their way to The Meadowbrook Inn where a wine tasting will bring together, in one spot, the greatest selections of wines in all the region. At the end of the tasting, 4 p.m., the best wine auction in all of a three or four state area will commence at Meadowbrook.
While fans warm to a bonfire in the park again on Saturday night, most other fans will be heading back to Hayes Auditorium for WinterGrass featuring the number one band in the land, Strictly Clean & Decent and their Oh Brother Where Art Thou antics will be in concert, live on stage. Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door.
The final day of Winterfest 2007 on Sunday sees the return of Shop ‘Til You Drop, a 2:30 showing of Cool Running at Hayes Center, free hay rides and hot chocolate and ice carving demonstrations in Memorial Park beginning at 1 p.m.
But the big news of the day comes early - with breakfast. Its the Winterfest Pancake Breakfast at the school cafeteria on Morris street. You can start eating at 8:30 and stay active with a fork until 1:30 p.m. This highlight of Winterfest is $6 for adults and $4 for children ten and under.
For more information on Winterfest visit the Winterfest Headquarters at the little museum on Main (Memorial Park) or the Headquarters at the Hayes Performing Art Center on Jamie Fort Road off Valley Boulevard (Highway 321 By-Pass). Better still, for a complete look at Winterfest 2007 and a glimpse back at previous festival, and a resource for shopping, dining and accommodations, see the free Winterfest Digest.