Brewer Winterfest events set Feb. 18-19

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BREWER – Valentine’s Day may be Monday, but those interested in taking their date out for a gala soiree will have to wait until Friday, when Brewer kicks off its third annual Penobscot River Winterfest.

A black tie dinner and dance and a cappella music are the featured events for Friday night, Feb. 18, as part of the two-day city festival, which begins that day at locations along the Penobscot River, Doyle Field and Brewer Auditorium.

“There are not many opportunities in the Greater Bangor area for people to get dressed up and go out on the town, and we wanted to be able to offer just that,” said D’arcy Main-Boyington, Brewer deputy economic development director.

“It starts with a cocktail hour and will include a cappella music by the Meddiebempsters. Following that will be a gourmet buffet dinner and following that is a dance with music provided by Brian Cattel,” she said.

The two-day winter festival will include live music, a chili cook-off for area restaurants, professional ice carvers and ice- and snow-carving competitions, live performances, and sliding, ice-skating and games for youngsters.

The Meddiebempsters, an all-male singing group from Bowdoin College, will kick off the event with a performance at 6 p.m. Friday at the Muddy Rudder, 5 South Main St.

Cattel’s Jump City Jazz Band will perform at the dance party, 6 p.m.-midnight, upstairs in the restaurant’s Chamberlain Room.

“It’s black tie optional,” said Tom Workman, Muddy Rudder general manager.

The idea for the party stemmed from last year’s Meddiebempsters’ Winterfest performance.

Only 120 tickets will be sold for the black tie dinner and dance, which will feature open flame cooking on the buffet and extra special culinary creations by executive chef David Smith, Workman said.

Tickets for the dinner are $50 each or $90 per couple and are available in advance by calling the restaurant directly.

Ice sculpture demonstrations start at the Muddy Rudder 3 p.m. Friday and run until 8 p.m. A sliding party is set for 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Doyle Field for younger participants.

This year’s event is a partnership of the city’s Penobscot Landing Advisory Committee, Brewer Kiwanis Club and the local Wal-Mart Supercenter, which is hosting events at Brewer Auditorium and will donate its share of the proceeds to the company’s national charity.

“We have stage performers from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with local dance and karate groups, and I have a bluegrass band that will be playing the last hour,” spokeswoman Carol Lackedy said. “It’s one dollar admission to get in, and the money goes to the Children’s Miracle Network.

“Your one dollar admission will cover most of the games, but there are some different prize games that are separate [and cost money],” she said.

The following is a list of events on Saturday, Feb. 19.

At Muddy Rudder:

. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. – ice sculpture demo.

. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – people’s choice chili cook-off, a cappella music by the Meddiebempsters.

. Noon-2 p.m. – photos with ice sculptures.

. 1-3 p.m. – local artist ice sculpture competition (pre-registration suggested).

At Doyle Field:

. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – skating and sliding.

. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – snow creation competition with prizes.

At Brewer Auditorium:

. 8-10 a.m. – Kiwanis French toast breakfast, $5 adult-$3 children.

. 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – children’s fair and games.

. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. – Brewer Hometown Band performances.

. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. – local group performances by groups including Eastern Maine School of Defense, Top Hat Dance Studio, Penobscot Valley School of Gymnastics, Northern Lights Dance, Bear Brook Kennel, Thomas School of Dance, Easter Maine Karate, Kishintaikan Dojo and a local bluegrass band.

To find out more or to sign up for the snow creation competition, call the Brewer Parks and Recreation Department at 989-5199.