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Newport Winter Festival
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The Winter Festival is a nostalgic visit from the past. We use the weekend to celebrate timeless Vermont traditions like snowmobiling, ice skating, sledding, and bonfires. Nothing chases the frostbite blues away like heartwarming time spent with family and friends. Whether you're participating in activities or simply watching, you're going to love this winter wonderland weekend.
REMINDER! Winter Festival family activities are being held at Prouty Beach this year. No activities will be happening at Gardner Memorial Park.
Eli Goss Ice Fishing Tournament
The 10th Annual Eli Goss Memorial Ice Fishing Tournament will be held on February 28 – March 1 2020 on Lake Seymour, Echo Lake and Lake Memphremagog. Compete for cash prizes and trophies while enjoying fun tournament games, raffles and complimentary food. 100% of all proceeds go directly to local graduates to help jump start their dreams through scholarship. Since the tournament began in 2011, over $36,350.00 has been raised to help young adults in our community. Tournament registration opens at 7:33AM at the Seymour Lake Fishing access. Cost is $15. For more information, visit www.EliGossMemorialFund.com. 
Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival
Join Kingdom Games as they embrace winter and the growing sport of cold water swimming in North America. Each year they cut a 25 meter, two lane pool in the ice on Lake Memphremagog by the Eastside Restaurant and offer 25, 50, 100 and 200 meter competitions, and the fiercest of hat competitions. Join our growing tribe of winter swimmers or enjoy the event as a spectator sport on February 29th at 9:00AM. This is the only 25 meter winter swim pool in North or South America - right here in Newport! TOTALLY COLD! Read more... Check out the Winter Swim Festival on Youtube! 
Sledding, Bonfire and Family Events
As the activities on the lake wind down, families are invited to gather at Prouty Beach for the Winter Festival finale at 4:00PM. We'll finish the evening with snow tubing and sledding (BRING sleds if you have them!), ice skating on the lake (weather permitting) and horse drawn sleigh rides. Don't miss the hysterical Hoagie's pizza eating contest at 6:30PM, where ten lucky contestants will compete for a chance to win water park passes to the Jay Peak Pump House! Sign-ups are taken on a first-come, first-serve basis at the event.  Photo by Barton Chronicle
Vermont Land Trust "Story Walk"
Come celebrate the beauty of winter with a special progressive storytelling walk hosted by the Vermont Land Trust and LEAP AmeriCorps! This mini-adventure will take participants of all ages through a tour of the snowy park as we read "Over and Under the Snow" by Vermont author Kate Messner. Along the way, we’ll stop for a craft, spot animal tracks and enjoy a sweet snack. Be sure to wear snow boots and bring a flashlight or headlamp to light the way and read along. Story walks begin at 5:30PM in the pines at Prouty Beach with a guided group departing every 15-30 minutes until fireworks begin. Contact Katherine Hancock at 802-745-6304 or email Katherine@vlt.org. 
Concessions & "Chuck-a-Puck" Contest
The Newport Recreation Committee will be on hand with hot soups, chili, baked goods, drinks and cocoa to warm frosty fingers and fill empty bellies. The community encouraged participate in the annual "Chuck-a-Puck" fundraiser for a chance to win a hundred dollars in cash! Make a $5 donation to receive a numbered puck for the contest. At 6:45, everyone gathers on the waterfront to throw their pucks on the lake toward a target. Whoever's puck lands closest to the target wins the cash prize! Proceeds from concession sales and "Chuck-A-Puck" contest benefit the Gardner Park Playground and Splashpad Project. 
Fireworks
To finish the night, a spectacular Winter Festival fireworks display can be seen over Lake Memphremagog at 7PM with breathtaking views from the waterfront at Prouty Beach. Fireworks are launched from the Veteran's Memorial Long Bridge near railroad square, and many locals enjoy the show from the Waterfront Plaza parking lot or Gardner Memorial Park. Please note that the Veteran's Memorial Bridge will be closed between 3PM-10PM on Saturday, February 29 for fireworks set up and break down. |
Age: All Ages
Date: Saturday, February 29, 2020 Time: 4:00-7:30PM Location: Prouty Beach, Newport Admit/Rate: Donations to fundraisers help support the event! WINTER FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
4:00PM Family Activities Begin - Sledding, Snow Tubing, Concessions, Horse Drawn Wagon Rides, Bonfire 5:30PM VLT Story Walks Begin 6:30PM Hoagies Pizza Eating Contest 6:45 PM Chuck-A-Puck Contest to support the Gardner Park Playground & Splash Pad Project 7:00PM Winter Festival Fireworks PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:
SUPPORTED BY:
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