Enjoy a night of skating under the lights as we celebrate Waterbury Winterfest and the annual Christmas tree bonfire at 6pm. Experience a traditional evening hosted by the Waterbury Recreation Department and Waterbury’s Fire Fighters where friends and families come together for skating, music and games!
Join Vermont’s Lt. Governor David Zuckerman for the official grand opening of the annual Waterbury Winterfest with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and bonfire party! Enjoy an evening of skating, music and games on the ice.
Come out and participate in the only sport born right here in Waterbury…Human Bowling! You’ll become the bowling ball as we hurl you down the ice to knock down as many enormous bowling pins as possible.
Come enjoy the best storytellers of the year as the seventh annual Extempo storytelling tournament of champions comes back to the opening night of Waterbury Winterfest. All the winners of the 2018 monthly storytelling competitions across Central Vermont spin their best yarns in front of a panel of jurors and delight a live audience. All stories are original, true, and told without notes or reading. Come hear the real-life adventures, foibles and challenges of real Vermonters who recount with humor, passion and heart. Your faith in humanity will be rejuvenated and restored, and you’ll get to vote for your favorite story. $10/person at the door.
Join Miss Andrea of Musical Munchkins for a musical program of singing, movement, stories, puppets, and instrumental play revolving around winter activities. Geared for families and children 0-5 years old. Times: 9:30 1-3 year olds (all siblings welcome), 10:30 2-5 year olds (all siblings welcome), 11:30-12:30 babies and young ones not walking (just for babies and caregivers).
Come join this all-ages, snowy version of a childhood favorite! No teams or tackles required, and we’ll create multi-age groupings that allow young and young-at-heart to participate. Come just for this event or participate in between games of broomball.
Bowling meets marbles…on ICE! This all ages, home-grown Curling event involves boot sliding, precision aiming of a frozen milk jug, and lots of fun.
You and your preK – 5th grade children are cordially invited to our first annual Family Winter Dance! Enjoy family-friendly music and delicious refreshments. Local performer extraordinaire, Taryn Noelle, will be here to teach you some new dance moves. Fancy dress or casual, but indoor shoes only in the dance studio please. $5/child at the door, adult escort/free admission with child.
7-9pm • American Legion
5K fun run-As the village turnsA flat 5K for all ages starting and finishing at Thatcher Brook Primary School. After several scenic turns in the village streets finish with a pleasant jaunt through the recently updated state office complex. Great prizes in a number of categories and delicious snacks at the end. A great event for spectators to cheer runners on at the finish line. Suggested donation $5.
Strap on your snowshoes or backcountry skis for the seventh descent of the Village to Little River Connector Trail. This delightful tour departs from the Blush Hill Country Club parking lot and winds through pristine woods to a lovely rolling finish with scenic views of the Little River. Cross the snow-machine bridge to a warm shuttle bus waiting to bring you back to the start. Bring water, snacks and extra layers. Suggested donation of $10 to support VAST Green Mountain Roamers.
Hey women! This is a great chance to gear up and enjoy some ice time with members of the Women’s Waterbury Wicked hockey squad as they provide some basic coaching to build your confidence on and off the ice. If you don’t have equipment to borrow from family or friends, skate rentals and some equipment will be provided at no charge. This is a free event!
Grange Hall Cultural Center celebrates Vermont-made cinema with a screening of Nora Jacobson’s award-winning film “Letters of My Mother’s Early Lovers.” The Alchemist brewery will be on hand for a pouring of some of your favorite locally brewed beers before and after the film. Stick around after the film for a discussion after the film with Ms. Jacobson and local actors from the film; George Woodard and Rusty Dewees. In the film, a young woman explores her mother’s past and uncovers a secret at the heart of her family’s history. Based on an autobiographical memoir, the film suggests that the truth, no matter how painful, provides a path to redemption. This movie contains adult themes and language. Reserve your seats early by calling 802-244-4168 or emailing grangehallcc@gmail.com. Admission is by donation until the seats are filled. Wait list will take seats not claimed 15 minutes before start of the film. Co-sponsored by Grange Hall Cultural Center and The Alchemist.
Bring your taste buds and hop downtown to Waterbury’s friendly beer pub to enjoy this exciting event. The evening promises a bevy of bountiful brews, bound to create a lingering taste sensation to last throughout the Winterfest season. Blackback Pub will have six Vermont beers to blind taste. Participants write down the correct beer and the winner receives a $5o gift certificate to Blackback Pub. In the event of a tie you will be placed into a drawing to choose the winner.
What is Winterfest Wassailing? This signature event is great fun for spectators and participants alike! A handful of pre-registered teams visit 6 participating downtown venues from 6-8 PM, sing a couple of songs at each stop, and inject music, laughter, and camaraderie into the dark days of winter. A great evening to share with family and friends at your favorite downtown Waterbury establishment! Finale at Stowe Street Cafe. Prefer to perform rather than spectate? Contact beth@bethgilpin.com to join or form a team, or volunteer to be a judge.
Back by popular demand! Come cross country ski or snowshoe under a January starlit sky. Join us at Pilgrim Park and later at the Green Mountain Cafe and Visitors Center to listen to vintage vinyl spun by DJ Weebs from 7-9pm. Bring your own equipment and a headlamp for the XC ski and snowshoe, and a change of clothes for the vinyl party. Don’t ski or snowshoe? No worries, join us in the Cafe and Visitors Center for the afterparty. Bring your vintage vinyl and join the fun!
Stroll through historic Waterbury while enjoying the best of our local art scene. This self-guided, 1-mile tour will give you the opportunity to visit art venues and meet Waterbury’s local artists, see their studios, get a glimpse of how they work and win a piece of artwork. Music and light snacks in some locations. Participating studios, galleries and artists: Jeremy Ayers, Axels Gallery, Bridgeside Books, Tabbatha Henry Studio, Raegan Hough, Musee Mimi, Rail Art at the Roundabout, Torrey Smith, Stowe Street Café, Sarah-Lee Terrat at the Train Station.
Calling all local singers! Come take the stage, grab the mic and show your talent with karaoke night at the Zenbarn! Make it a night you and your friends will never forget!
This is the Music Series’ big fundraiser benefit show for Waterbury Winterfest. It will be an exceptional evening with Dwight & Nicole, an American indie-soul band. Their strong natural voices will stop you dead in your tracks. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door. Enjoy a great night and support a great cause.
Prizes, activities, snowflake candy and snowball cookies for all!
Snow Soccer Olympics, including five (5) family-friendly events for all ages. Test your skills at the Soccer Slalom, Soccer Javelin, Snowman Shoot-out or Soccer Biathlon. Medals and raffle tickets for all Olympians! Raffle winners picked every 30 minutes. Warm-up with hot chocolate and roast marshmallows by the bonfire. Get your photo taken with Regal, the Snow Eagle! Join a pick-up game of Super Size Soccer. Cheer on your Olympians or watch Capital Soccer play in a game of coed snow soccer.
Capital Soccer Club will host some friendly U14 boys and girls soccer matches vs Far Post Soccer Club.
Have you ever wanted to try out a fat tire bike in the winter? Are you already an avid fat tire biker? Waterbury Area Trails Alliance (WATA) and Bike Express will be on hand at Rusty Parker Memorial Park with demo bikes and equipment. There will be a demo loop, guided rides, and more! Our friends from the Alchemist will be pouring some favorite beers from 4-6pm following the group rides.
Are your littles a little stir crazy? The Thatcher Brook Gymnasium will be open for them to cruise around on their favorite bikes, trikes, scooters, and push toys at this FREE, high-energy, family event geared towards young children (up to age 6). Our indoor track is for toddler-friendly traffic speeds. An infant area will be set up for those little ones who can’t yet ride. Helmets recommended. Free pizza dinner. Bring a side or dessert for the family-style potluck.
This wildly popular fundraiser features the music of Still Kickin’ and renowned sax man, Joe Moore! Enjoy a great night and support a great cause. Tickets: $12 in advance, $15 at the door and available at WaterburyWinterfest.com, Stowe Street Emporium, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Cafe and Visitor Center, and The Tiny Acorn. Ticket sales for this fundraiser help support Waterbury recreational opportunities. Zenbarn will donate 10% of your dinner proceeds to Winterfest if you make an online dinner reservation: zenbarnvt.com (mention “Winterfest” in the notes section of your reservation).
Snowmobile Vermont is offering free snowmobile rides for kids during Waterbury Winterfest. Meet their expert guides outside the Ice Center for a thrill of a lifetime ride.
Join family and friends in a fun-filled game of pick-up football in the snow! This friendly game of two-hand touch is for kids and kids-at-heart, ages 8 and up. Hot chocolate provided. Dress for warmth and action to have some football fun before the start of the Superbowl!