Local News
ROY-HART: First Winterfest is a success
LOCKPORT — By Bill Wolcott
bill.wolcott@lockportjournal.com
GASPORT — Winterfest 2010 drew bundles of kids and their parents to a mid-winter party Saturday a the Royalton-Hartland Elementary School.
The parking lot was full and the hallways were bustling with young families going from venue to venue. Many children had their faces painted, carried balloons. They wore firefighters’ caps on their heads and snowflake stamps on their wrists.
Outside, there was snowshoeing and sno-gusta mini golf. The Fiddlesticks played Stephen Foster songs in the auditorium and children bounced around in the gymnasium. Crafters showed off their wares in the A, B and C Wings of the school
About 40 volunteers and several community groups made the first Winterfest a success. Helen Feron of Absolut Care hopes to make it an annual event. She estimated attendance between 650 and 700.
“We really had a good time. We were very happy. It was a tremendous success for an initial go,” Feron said. “We believe we’re going to do this again. Everyone was supportive of the idea. We wanted to have a cost-effective family event for the community.”
There were 51 Chinese auction donors and money raised will go toward next year’s event, according to Feron. Also, community groups and vendors were given a venue to raise funds.
“It think it’s wonderful,” said Dorothy Buscarino of Royalton who brought Vincent, 6, and Juliana, 5. “It gives the kids something to do in the winter when there’s nothing else to do. And, they get to see their friends outside of regular school.”
Vincent wore a Dalmatian face and carried a sword balloon crafted by a clown. They enjoyed the bounce house activities and planned to return. The bounce house featured a monster slide, quarterback toss, Find the Monkey and bouncing among pirate-looking characters.
Laurie Bower of Middleport relaxed a few moments in the cafeteria with her daughter Jamie, 8, and Jamie’s friend, Holly, 9.
“I love it,” Laurie said. “I just come for fun. I think it’s a terrific idea.”
Ashley Bower, an older daughter, was working in a booth with Covenant United Church of Christ Youth Group. The teens, who were wearing “Walk the Talk” shirts and selling chili, were raising money to go to Vermont in July in order to work on homes.
Serenity Hair Design provided massages and face painting — mostly puppies.
Heather and Victor DiGiacomo brought Ava, who just turned 4. “It’s wonderful. We’re having a great time,” mom said as Ava was having her face painted.
Robert Frazier, 14, a member of Leo Club, help the for Lions Club make different flavors to sno cones. The included butter popcorn, cotton candy and sour watermelon. “I’m having a lot of fun,” said Robert, an eighth grader at Roy-Hart.
Absolut Care was a gold sponsor, along with Middleport Family Health Care, Sigmamotor, the Royalton-Hartland Business and Professional Association and the Lockport Union-Sun & Journal.
Contact reporter Bill Wolcott
at 439-9222, ext. 6246.
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