The Town of Colton’s annual Winterfest starts January 11th. The festival theme Rockin’ in the Great South Woods – will include events spread out over three consecutive weekends in January, not just during the last weekend of the month as has been done in the past.

Winterfest posters displayed in and around town highlight the new three weekend approach, and include a QR code for smartphone users to directly link to the schedule online.

The complete schedule is posted on the town’s website and hard copies are available in the Colton Town Hall on Main Street.

The festival starts on Friday, January 11 and ends on Sunday, January 27.

The first weekend, focusing on celebration and history, kicks off on January 11 with the Citizen of the Year Award during a spaghetti dinner in the Colton-Pierrepont Central School (Central School) cafeteria, followed by the music of Nick Rycroft in the auditorium. Other activities include the annual quilt show in three venues: Colton Hepburn Library, St. Patrick’s Church Parish Center and Catamount Lodge. There will also be a story hour for kids at the library, a vintage snowmobile show at Mahogany Ridge Bar & Grill, a new ski/snowshoe event at Catamount Mountain organized by the Adirondack Mountain Club, and the first of three wine and spirit tasting events at Higley Hooch. The weekend ends with a history presentation by Spencer Thew in the Central School cafeteria organized by the Colton Historical Society about dog sledding in South Colton and competing in the Iditarod.

The second weekend, focusing on adventure and sports, includes three events at Higley Flow State Park (Higley Flow): Trivia Night at Trails Lodge, the Rod Thomas Memorial Higley Hustle Ski Races, and Family Day at the Park. At the Central School there will be a baked potato dinner, an international themed breakfast followed by a foul shooting contest and an indoor soccer tournament for students, and an all-day Mini Barn Quilt Workshop. At AmVets the annual frying pan toss will be followed by a chicken barbecue. And new this year, at Racquette Valley Fish & Game Club, there will be sleigh rides and cardboard sled races.

The third weekend, with a theme of nature and nurture, features a number of activities at the Central School including an educational presentation by Adirondack Raptors. During the weekend at school there also will be the annual health and craft fairs, a free clothing giveaway, and the NYS Snowmobile Safety Course. The annual 10-mile foot race will start and end at the school this year. And a pancake breakfast will be held at the Masonic Lodge and more food and sales will be available at the Colton Methodist Church. Plus a new STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Art-Math) event at the Central School provides more opportunities to learn and create, plus there is a new fondue and night skiing event at Higley Flow.

During the festival there also will be events at Raquette River Pub, including a Tap Takeover on Saturday, January 26. Live music on Saturday nights at the pub will complement other music events at the school.

The schedule also includes contacts for events requiring participants to pre-register which include the ski/snowshoe at Catamount Mountain on January 12, the Mini Barn Quilt Workshop on January 20, and the fondue and night skiing event on January 25. Vendors and crafters wishing to participate in the craft show on January 26 should contact Grace Hawley, the Winterfest Planning Committee chair, in advance by calling (315) 262-2439.

The festival supports the Neighborhood Center serving Colton, Pierrepont, and Parishville. Fund raising will include a silent auction of gift baskets which kicks off at the spaghetti dinner on January 11 and ends at the craft fair on January 26. And the raffle of an owl barn quilt painted with the help of Central School students begins January 11 and ends when the winning ticket is drawn during the Adirondack Raptors event on January 27.

For more information about the complete schedule, check the town’s website.

Photo of festival posters designed by art teacher Krystal Hewer at Colton-Pierrepont Central School photo by Ruth McWilliams.