Winter has been slow-in-coming around Utah this year, but maybe a celebration of all things cold and snowy will make the skies open up and cause temperatures to drop. The 2012 Ogden Winterfest may be just the thing to cure our winter doldrums when the city transforms the Historic 25th Street and Ogden Municipal Gardens into what they are calling a, “Winter Wonderland.”
The theme of this year’s Ogden Winterfest is, “Where Cold is Cool.” Festivities will include all sorts of traditional and unusual winter activities for kids and grownups alike. Games, friendly competitions, and lots of spectator sports will be happening like the new Octane Addictions, a snowmobile freestyle act that will take center stage each night.
According to festival organizers, thousands of people will line the streets, participate and gather during the 2012 Winterfest. The celebration, which takes place during the height of the winter season, gives the community a reason to gather and have fun. Most events are free and are accessible to all ages. The Winterfest organizing committee encourages individuals to sign up early, and recruit friends and family to join in.
Festivities begin Friday, January 27 at 6 p.m. with a street closing ceremony on Washington Boulevard followed by a toboggan parade. New this year Octane Additions, a freestyle snowmobile act, will entertain the crowd with flips and twists each night. Friday night activities also include snowshoe and Cross country ski races, food and entertainment from local bands.
“We invite everyone to come out and participate in this one-of-a-kind statewide snow celebration,” said Kevin Ireland, Winterfest event coordinator.
Events and activities will continue throughout the day on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tubing, human dog sled races, a winter 5K, a polar bear swim, flag football, kid’s corner with games, activities and prizes, dog costume contest, a new winter tug-of-war, snowmobile drag racing and the much anticipated skijoring event and ski jump competition (skiing behind a horse through a series of jumps) will be available for the community to enjoy.
The organizing committee invites the public to participate in three ways:
Participate: Events are open to the public and most are free. A small fee will apply to snow mobile drag racing, flag football and winter 5K.
Sponsor: As a local business, sponsor an event.
Volunteer: The Winterfest organizing committee is always looking for volunteers to sign up and help with the event.
For a full event schedule listing, to sign up for an event, or become a sponsor visit www.ogdenwinterfest.com, call 801.629.8337 or e-mail winterfest@ogdencity.com.