Second Winter Carnival kicks off school break with family fun at park
Date: 1/30/2015
WEST SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Edward Sullivan’s Winter Carnival is back for its second year.
The event will take place at Mittineague Park on Feb. 14, beginning with a two-mile family fun run and a “Terrier Turf” dog walk at 10:30 a.m. The run starts at Tatham Upper Field.
Though the race begins at 10:30 a.m., the carnival itself will run from 12 to 3 p.m.
After the fun run, visitors will be able to explore the different activities throughout the park. The UNICO Building will be home to arts and crafts, nature demonstrations, face painting and a photo contest.
There will be a free cookout at the Rotary Pavilion from 12 to 1:30 p.m., as well as a bonfire, hot chocolate and a “Tree Mask Trail.” Snow activities and sledding will be taking place at the Ball Field Area and Santa’s House, respectively. Horse drawn wagons and a van borrowed from the Senior Center will drive guests from place to place.
The Winter Carnival marks the beginning of February vacation for West Springfield schools, and Sullivan said it is a fitting way to celebrate the first day of break.
“It’s an effort to really pull the community together and get them outside during the cold winter months,” Sullivan said.
The first Winter Carnival was just last year as part of Sullivan’s inaugural week, but he said it is something he hopes will continue and expand as time goes on.
“The first one was such a huge success, we thought we’d do it again,” Sullivan said. “When I was elected, I thought it would be nice to have a community event.”
The carnival offers families a chance to get out and support the West Springfield community, in addition to just getting outdoors, a feat in and of itself in late winter.
Most of all, Sullivan said, it is an opportunity for the community to have some quality family fun.
“I just like the way that the families come out with their kids and the expressions on the kids’ faces when they’re involved in certain things. They were enamored,” Sullivan said. “It’s both inside and outside, so hopefully a lot of people come out and enjoy themselves in a true family event.”
