The Tri-Town Winter Carnival button was designed by St. Lawrence Central School student Bailey Ramsdell and is available at local businesses and merchants.

By MATT LINDSEY

BRASHER FALLS -- The 43rd Tri-Town Winter Carnival is set for Feb. 18-21 and will feature an evening parade, fireworks show, snow babies contest, food and celebrity impersonators including Elvis Presley, Garth Brooks and Michael Jackson.

Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce President Michelle First says that a lot has changes this year with new events and schedule changes.

Events are free with the purchase of a collectible winter carnival button. The cost is $2. The button was designed by St. Lawrence Central School student Bailey Ramsdell and is available at local businesses and merchants.

“I’ve seen buttons from the 70s and 80s…so there they are collector items,” First said.

Opening dinner, normally held on Thursday, will take place on Friday this year at the Knights of Columbus with cocktails from 6 until 7 p.m., crowning of royalty at 7 p.m., dinner at 7:15 p.m. and music from Nik and the Nice Guys from 8 until 11 p.m.

The Nik and the Nice Guys band was formed by a group of Canadian hockey players at St. Lawrence University that included National Hockey League coach Mike Keenan and present day Nik manager Gary Webb, according to their website. The St. Lawrence University "college band" focused on audience participation. The group disbanded upon graduation but re-formed in the 80's when Keenan became coach of the Rochester Americans.

They have played all over the northeast at fairs, festivals, weddings, corporate events and more.

“They do impersonations and I’ve already had a lot of great feedback about them coming,” First said. “They put on a great show.”

Some celebrities expected to be portrayed are Cher, Tina Turner and Buddy Holly.

“We changed the day of the dinner to allow people to better enjoy the night and not have to worry about getting up to work the next day,” First said. “People will be able to let their hair down.”

The cost of dinner is $35 and includes food, entertainment and a chance to win a casino package. To buy tickets contact Kim Russell at 705-8913, message the Tri-Town Carnival Facebook page or visit a town hall in Brasher, Stockholm or Lawrence.

“We tried to offer diversity in our events and get local businesses involved to showcase what they do,” First said.

Saturday’s parade has been switched from daytime to night and the route has been reversed from past years. The parade route will travel from Winthrop to Brasher and kicks off at 8 p.m. at Agway. Participants are asked to line up at 7:30 p.m.

The parade will end at the school which will host fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Other Saturday night entertainment includes live music with Tweeter and the Monkey from 8 p.m. to midnight at the Riverview Restaurant and live music with Jack Bellows Band and a pool tournament at The Jug in North Lawrence.

Before the parade be sure to check out a 50s Hop at Jake’s Place from 6 to 8 p.m. There will be on-going specials.

The talent show, normally held on Friday night, has been moved to Saturday night from 6 until 7:30 p.m.

“Moving the talent show should allow more people to attend and not feel rushed like some did on Friday nights when the show was previously held,” she said.

An increasingly popular event, Snow Babies, is slated from 4 until 7 p.m. on Thursday in the St. Lawrence Central cafeteria. Children under age five are eligible and should be dressed in the “Jukebox Hero” theme.

“It’s not a pageant…since we moved away from judging the event it has helped,” she said. “We had about 40 participants last year and it’s just a good time for all the moms to show off their kids.

Free photos will be available for participants courtesy of Shelby Frary Photography and Elm Circle Photography. Each child will receive awards and there will be a drawing for a family four-pack for dinner at Pizza Hut and a movie at the Potsdam Roxy Theater.

On Thursday night there will be a karaoke and costume contest from 7 until 11 p.m. at Riverview Restaurant in Brasher Falls. Costumes should stick to the carnival theme “Jukebox Heroes.” Prizes will be awarded. A snowman contest and free self-defense class round out Thursday activities.

The opening dinner will be preceded by a spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. at the American Legion on Friday night. Jack Bellows will perform solo at The Jug from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.

Put some fuel in your body Saturday morning at a “Frozen” themed pancake breakfast before joining the snowshoe and cross-country ski poker run, snowmobile poker run, redneck horseshoes and craft fair.

“The craft fair has grown so much every year…I believe we have nearly 100 vendors and the fair will be held in the cafeteria and gym at the school to accommodate them all,” she said.

The Kids Zone, held at the elementary school, will include bounce houses, crafts, fun camp coding, a martial arts workshop, Crane a capella performance and a presentation from Thompson Park Zoo.

A chicken BBQ, cake auction and wine tasting round out things to do on Saturday.

The American Legion in Winthrop will serve a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. on Sunday. Other Feb. 21 activities include the annual youth basketball tournament, truck drags, human foosball, shuffleboard tournament and closing ceremonies.

History buffs can submit photos of previous winter carnivals for the “Blast from the Past” photography contest which will be held on their Facebook page. People can post photos on the page and the one that receives the most “Likes” will be the winner and will receive a gift card to Stewarts.

“This event is put together every year with a group of volunteers who put in so much time and hard work, their dedication is amazing,” First said.

For times, locations and more visit www.facebook.com/groups/629946070404320/.