NEWPORT — This year’s Winter Festival will kick off at Newport’s Gardner Memorial Park on Saturday, February 2.
Come celebrate timeless Vermont traditions like snowmobiling, ice skating, broomball, and bonfires.
Guy Fortin Broomball Tournament
With broomball skills, smooth line changes and athletic ability optional, this casual tournament has become a favorite Winter Festival activity for residents and visitors alike.
No skates or skills required, the emphasis is placed on camaraderie and old fashioned winter fun.
Players can recruit family members, colleagues, and neighbors to assemble a team and put for an effort to win the coveted championship t-shirts and bragging rights.
Cost is $10 per person to support Winter Festival fireworks.
Sign-up with a full team of 6-10 or sign-up individually as a “free agent,” and organizers will put you on a team.
Registration is due by January 28th.
Fire & Ice Radar Runs
The roar of high-speed engines resonates from Lake Memphremagog during the radar runs outside the Eastside Restaurant during Winter Festival.
This one-day competition showcases local riders competing for speed down a thousand-foot track on the lake.
With categories for all ages, some of the fastest sleds have traveled over 130 miles per hour.
Winners from a variety of age divisions take home trophies and celebrate with an after-race banquet at 4:00 p.m. inside the restaurant.
Registration at 9:00 a.m., runs begin at 11:00 a.m.
Family Events & Fireworks at Gardner Park
As the tournaments and the day’s festivities wind down, families are invited to gather at the park at 5:00 p.m. for the Winter Festival finale.
Finish the evening with free ice skating, a bonfire, and a spectacular firework display over the bay on Lake Memphremagog at 7:00 p.m.
Don’t miss the hysterical Hoagie’s pizza eating contest and Chuck-a-Puck 50/50 fundraiser too to benefit the Gardner Park Playground and Splashpad Project.
Admission to the park is free, but donations are appreciated to support the event.
Nothing chases the frostbite blues away like heartwarming time spent with family and friends. Whether you’re participating in a tournament or simply watching, you’re going to love this winter wonderland weekend.
