WinterFest offers new activities

The 22nd annual Scarborough WinterFest will feature a variety of winter events and new activities.

The festival begins at noon Saturday with a free-throw competition sponsored by Knights of Columbus in the Wentworth Intermediate School cafeteria. A snow sculpture contest next to the ice rink also will begin at noon. Contestants can enter in one of three categories: family, 12 and younger or 13 and older. 

New to the festival this year are human sled races, set to begin at 12:45 p.m. at Turf Field. Teams of three, four or five people will pull teammates from one side of the field to the other. A snowball toss will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Turf Field. Contestants will get five snowballs to toss through tires hanging from the goalposts. Ribbons will be awarded to the top three contestants. 

Other events throughout the day will include slalom skating at 12:30 p.m. at the lower ice rink; a jump rope competition at 1 p.m. in the Wentworth band room; speed skating at 1:15 p.m. at the lower ice rink; face painting at 1:30 p.m. in the Wentworth cafeteria; backward skating contest at 2 p.m. at the lower ice rink; Score-O at 2:15 p.m. at the upper ice rink; and an obstacle course at 2:45 p.m. at the lower ice rink. 

Contestants in the ice cube hunt at Bessworth Basketball Court should bring their own bags. Pre-K and kindergarten students will hunt for ice cubes at 2 p.m., followed by first- and second-grade students at 2:45 p.m. 

Judging of snow sculptures begins at 2:30 p.m. with winners announced at 3 p.m. The WinterFest king and queen will be crowned at 4 p.m. Fireworks will begin at 4:15 p.m. 

An open skate will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the lower ice rink and wagon rides from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. S’mores and hot chocolate will be served from 2 to 3 p.m. at the ice rink, where Frosty will visit with children throughout the day. 

 “Amazing Lou” will perform from 1 to 1:45 p.m. and 3 to 3:45 p.m. in the Wentworth gym. Caricatures with Channing Reeves will be offered from 1:45 to 3 p.m. in the gym. 

For the first time, the festival will feature a raffle and silent auction in the hallway between the Wentworth gym and cafeteria. Raffle tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or $10 for an arm’s length. Registration for the silent auction begins at noon and table groupings start closing at 1:30 p.m. 

Auction items include a Calm Waters Spa gift basket and gift certificate; doggie goodie bag from Pet Quarters; $250 gift certificate to Maine Turf and Greenery; $150 gift certificate to Muller Plumbing and Heating; and a round of golf for four players from Pine Tree Waste. 

Event rain dates are Sunday and Monday. In case of inclement weather, call Scarborough Community Services at 730-4150 or the ice rink hotline at 883-7645.