Brewer expands this year’s WinterFest Two-day event features fun for families

BREWER – In two weeks, the Penobscot River WinterFest will kick off and turn Brewer into a winter fun land, said Economic Development Director Andrew “Drew” Sachs.

There are two areas within the community that will host the two-day event set for Feb. 27 and 28 – the riverfront near the Muddy Rudder Restaurant and the Brewer Auditorium area including Doyle Field.

“Hopefully we’ll have snow,” said Sachs, who helped organize the second annual event. “However, the only event that actually requires snow is the snow creation competition.”

Anyone interesting in registering a team for the snow creation competition can call or stop by the Brewer Auditorium.

This year’s event is much larger, said Mayor Michael Celli, thanks in part to a partnership between the Penobscot Landing advisory committee and the Brewer Parent-Teacher Union.

“This is for the children of the community,” he said. “And it’s a lot of fun for the whole family.”

“Down at the Muddy Rudder we’ve added several events, including a formal kickoff event with two performances by the Meddybemps, which is an a cappella group from Bowdoin College with over 100 years of history of a cappella singing,” Sachs said.

The Meddybemps will perform during the kickoff at 6 p.m. Feb. 27 and again at 8 p.m. to provide on-site entertainment while nationally renowned ice sculptor Steve Griffith of New Hampshire carves away at his creations. During this time, the Muddy Rudder will be serving hot chocolate, coffee and tea free of charge to the public.

While Griffith is finishing up his third sculpture the morning of Feb. 28, the Great Chili Challenge will get under way.

“We already have eight or nine area restaurants signed up to cook their own version of this home-style favorite,” Sachs said. “From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. the public gets to come down and taste-test the chili and vote on their favorites, so it’s a people’s choice award.”

While the cook-off is finishing up, an ice sculpture competition featuring local talent will begin. Professional ice sculptors from all over Maine, including students from United Technology Center’s food program, will converge on Brewer between 1 and 3 p.m. for the competition.

The Feb. 28 events at Brewer Auditorium will run 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and will be held in conjunction with the Parent-Teacher Union.

The snow creations competition, weather permitting, starts at 10 a.m. This year the teams of up to 10 people must be 18 or younger.

“Last year a Bangor team won, which is completely unacceptable,” Sachs joked.

The event is open to all area youth. While the youth competition is going on at Doyle Field, the PTU will have a series of onstage performances upstairs at the auditorium, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The local performing group Then and Now and the Mad Whittler are two of the performers. Local dance groups, singers, balloon artists and storytellers also will be on hand, and food will be available to buy.

“The Mad Whittler shows up with a big block of wood and a chain saw and carves it into a big bear,” said Sachs. “Afterwards we’re going to have a drawing for the bear.”

Downstairs at the auditorium will be the Cool Cafe. Several bands including the Skyliners, which is a subset of the Brewer Hometown Band, Sweet Adelines, Penobscot Winds and 6 Basin Street will perform.

“Outside at Doyle Field, we’re going to be offering horse-drawn sleigh rides [for $2 per ride] and we’ve set up an ice rink and are inviting people to bring their sleds and go sledding,” said Sachs. “And we’re going to have firefighters there for the kids.

Getting people out enjoying themselves and bringing people together is what the event is all about, said Sachs. He said the Winterfest is privately funded through corporate and individual sponsorships. Large contributors include Downeast Toyota-Buick, the Muddy Rudder, the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Brewer, Trans-Tech Industries, the accounting firm of Beatham, Bernier, Seekins and Colpritt, and 15 other area companies.

The closing ceremony for the event is at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 28 at the Muddy Rudder.

“We look forward to making this another successful annual event,” said Sachs. “Come and join the fun!”