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10 days of events planned for Canton Winterfest

Posted 2/1/17

By MATT LINDSEY CANTON -- Canton’s 25th Winterfest celebration will offer 10 days of family-friendly activities from Feb. 9 through 18, featuring the chamber dinner, sporting events, music, food, a …

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10 days of events planned for Canton Winterfest

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

CANTON -- Canton’s 25th Winterfest celebration will offer 10 days of family-friendly activities from Feb. 9 through 18, featuring the chamber dinner, sporting events, music, food, a play, an indoor garage sale outdoors activities and other things.

Winterfest was the idea of former Canton Chamber of Commerce board member Bob Raymo, according to Sally Hill, executive director of the Canton Chamber, which organizes the annual event.

“A lot of people will remember him, he lived in Canton for a long time, he was part of many committees,” she said.

“The only reason it kept going is because of the community,” Raymo said. “They came out to events and bought Wintefest buttons.

Winterfest buttons will return, offering the chance to win several prizes. The them is always “Warm Your Heart” and this year a penguin is the featured graphic.

“They cost $2 each and the grand prize is an overnight stay in Lake Placid with $50 toward gas which will get you there and hopefully back.” Other prizes include several gift certificates and gift baskets from local businesses.”

Buttons have been a staple of Winterfest since its inception and Hill has a display of all 25 at her office.

Dozens of people contribute to making the event happen from churches, college students, businesses and other local organizations and individual volunteers.

Hill says the majority of events are free to attend. Some events may have a fee if an organization is trying to raise money.

“The businesses, sponsors and Winterfest button sales help to pay for the event,” Hill said. “There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes with advertising, prizes and printing.

Each year about 700-800 buttons are sold which raises $1,500-$1,600.

“Winterfest helps break the cabin fever,” Hill said. “People have been through the holidays, New Year and are looking for spring – it gets the community out together.”

Hill says there is something to do for a large variety of people including sushi making for kids and wine tasting for adults.

The celebrations kicks off with the annual Chamber dinner Feb. 9 at Eben Holden at St. Lawrence University at 7 p.m. The chamber will honor Debbie Gilson of County Seat Realty as the Chamber Member of the Year and Canton Fire and Rescue will be received a recognition award.

Canton Fire and Rescue “deserve every bit of that recognition,” Hill said.

Tickets for the dinner will be available until Friday, Feb. 3. Contact Hill at 386-8255 for info.

Hill says some of the most popular events are the church concert, hospital guild luncheon, FFA garage sale and Rotary pancake breakfast.

“We end up with 65 to 85 people who walk from church to church listening to bagpipes and ending with refreshments and conversation,” she said.

Hill said the garage sale event is “usually packed” and that “people are ready in February for garage sales.”

New events include The Gallery Hop, which is a casual, family-friendly event organized by SLC Arts. It takes place Feb. 11.

For a complete listing of events, see the Canton Winterfest insert in North Country This Week.