Some of the happenings at a past years’ WinterFest events.
Photo credit: Friends of Nashawannuck Pond
EASTHAMPTON — The 13th annual Easthampton WinterFest kicks off at the start of the New Year and culminates in a jam-packed day of community fun throughout the city on Feb. 14.
WinterFest is the biggest fundraiser for the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond nonprofit each year. The organization hosts the event alongside the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee, and proceeds support the ongoing health of the pond.
“I think like most events that are offered annually, it has become a tradition and people look forward to it,” Friends of Nashawannuck Pond Treasurer Beth Tiffany told Reminder Publishing. “Mid-winter after all the holidays are over, people are ready to get out and do something, inside or outside. The events are so varied from entertainment for kids, which can also be very entertaining to adults, like the magician and puppeteer and live animals. Then there is the horse drawn wagon rides, food truck, historical ice harvesting and Polar Plunge. There is something for everyone.”
The funds raised through WinterFest sponsorship, merchandise sales, donations and other fundraisers have paid for annual herbicide treatment for invasive Eurasian Milfoil. The money also supports other ongoing projects, like monitoring and treating invasive species, and barley straw deployment to deter cyanobacteria.
Tiffany explained that these efforts maintain the pond and preserve it from its once “swampy” status decades ago.
The herbicide treatment controls invasives, and the many native plants that — if left unchecked — would lead to pond deterioration.
These fundraising efforts will continue for future maintenance and rebuilding of the stabilization wall at the pond. Construction on that is planned to begin in the spring. Tiffany said the mission of the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond is financially supporting the maintenance required. The Steering Committee’s mission, meanwhile, is evaluating the maintenance of the pond and advising the city on what should be done to preserve it.
WinterFest events will kick off on Jan. 2 with the online portion of festivities. Starting that day will be the Nashawannuck Pond photo contest, the snowflake making contest, pond trivia and the Mt. Tom ice cream flavor contest.
These events started during the pandemic when a regular gathering for WinterFest could not happen, and they are now popular additions to the festival.
“These events take time, we want to give people enough time to take these photos, submit photos,” said Amy Marsters, president of the Friends of Nashawannuck Pond and a member of the pond’s Steering Committee. “It keeps people involved.”
“It builds momentum,” added Tiffany.
There are approximately 30 activities and events scheduled between Jan. 2 and Feb. 14, with most activities free to attend due to business sponsorships. All are family friendly, and donations are always gladly accepted.
The Historical Ice Harvest on Nashawannuck Pond featuring historian Dennis Picard will be a headlinging event on Feb. 14, weather permitting. Participants will try their hands at using a pond saw to “harvest” blocks of ice as they learn more about Easthampton’s important role in the area’s ice industry.
Other outdoor activities happening on Feb. 14 include a nature walk at Arcadia, Clay Hill Farm draft horse wagon rides and a community fire by the pond. The Easthampton Fire Department will also host its third annual Polar Plunge.
“It’s gone through so many iterations over the years depending on whatever’s going on, whether its COVID … or after COVID, where it’s like,’what do we keep, how do we start over again in person,’” explained Marsters. “Polar Plunge a couple years ago has really taken on a life of its own and that’s really because of the Fire Department. It’s their event.”
WinterFest’s culminating day of events will also include indoor activities at CitySpace, including an Art in Motion dance demonstration, Ed Popielarczyk’s magic show, puppeteering from Tom Knight, as well as a Meet and Greet Gino event with Easthampton Police Department Lt. Andrew Beaulie and K-9 Handler and author Ellen Field.
At the Easthampton Library Annex, there will be a performance from Family Jungle Entertainment. The Easthampton Library will have a note-making event and snowflake making station for the contest. Valley Art Supplies, the Council on Aging and New City Brewery are hosting events that will soon be finalized.
Abandoned Building Brewery is hosting the 1 Man Party trivia and DJ on Feb. 7, a night of Bingo on Feb. 12, the WinterFest chili tasting on Feb. 13 and WinterFest After Dark with live music on Feb. 14.
“Each year it feels like we get more and more people involved and even to this day, we’re having people email us and say, ‘hey can we be a part of this too,’ and we’re like, ‘sure,’” said Marsters. “That’s what we want, we want the whole community involved.”
Tiffany added that the business community has been very supportive through sponsorships and hosting events. She said sponsorship opportunities are still available for those interested. For more details on sponsorship opportunities, visit nashawannuckpond.org/sponsors.html.
Gift certificates or in-kind donations are used in part for prizes and for the many contests. The Friends and Steering Committee are still accepting volunteers. For more information on this year’s WinterFest, visit nashawannuckpond.org/winterfest.html.
Tiffany and Marsters said they are eagerly anticipating another year of WinterFest and hope for another great turnout across the several weeks of events, all in support of Easthampton’s Nashawannuck Pond.
“February can be a pretty dreary month. The holidays are over. So it’s a nice time of year to be able to celebrate winter and the pond, but its also a time to try and make business for restaurants, stores, to get people out and doing things. Education, celebration,” said Marsters.
