Colton Winterfest Moves Indoors To Avoid Weather

COLTON — Quilts, crafts and cookies were among the highlights of the Colton Township Winterfest, which continued Saturday despite warm temperatures and a lack of snow that forced the cancellation of several outdoor events.

While there was no skiing or snowshoeing available, the town was still filled with things to do for people of all ages.

Colton Pierrepont Central School played host to a health fair and craft fair that featured nearly 30 vendors.

"Being the first show of the year, I think people really like it," said Grace Hawley, who organizes the show.

Ms. Hawley said this year they even had to turn vendors away, clear evidence to show how much the show has grown over the years.

"Initially, it was just a health fair, but we weren't getting enough traffic, so we felt like we had to do something more," she said. "We started small with only eight vendors, but this year we had to turn four away."

Just outside the gymnasium the parent teacher student association sponsored crafts, cookie decorating and sledding, which actually had to be done on a man-made hill behind the school.

"Every year we do winterfest," said Amy Paulette, PTSA vice president. "We do cookie decorating, crafts and have a couple parents outside sledding."

Ms. Paulette said approximately 50 children took part in some portion of their sponsored activities.

"I think it's important for the community to know we're here for the kids," she said. "We're trying to be a stronger voice in things that go on at the school and be more involved in our children's activities."

A little bit farther up the street, the town hall, library, Zion Episcopal Church and Catamount Lodge were hosting a quilt show that featured more than 100 quilts spread out over the four buildings, with the library housing antique quilts and the Catamount Lodge hosting a special collection of antique quilts from Mary Holmes Fisk.

Other activities also included a pancake breakfast held at the Masonic Lodge, bed races sponsored by the Amvets, a spaghetti dinner at the school and a concert featuring The Hollowbodies.

Colton's winterfest continues today with highlights including a pancake breakfast at the school from 8 a.m. to noon, ice skating at the new pavilion in South Colton from 1 to 4 p.m., a children's foul-shooting contest at 1 p.m. at the school and the second day of the quilt show. The quilt show will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today.

A complete schedule is available online at www.northcountryguide.com. Several outdoor events, including the cross-country ski races and sleigh rides, have been canceled. Those who are unsure about an event should call to make sure it is still scheduled.