The 2023 WinterFest, set for Saturday, Dec. 2, in Festus, will again include ice skating.
A mobile ice skating rink had been a staple of the festival since it debuted in 2016, but it was not part of last year’s event.
This year’s WinterFest will run from 8 a.m. to about 6 p.m. along Festus Main Street, which will be closed between Mill and Walnut streets.
The skating rink will be set up in the Festus Public Library parking lot, 400 W. Main St. Some activities also will be held in the First United Methodist Church parking lot and in the church, 113 Grand Ave.
The Festus Tourism Commission sponsors WinterFest, which will include a variety of entertainment for people of all ages..
Barb Lowry, the Festus recreation and tourism director, said a significant number of fairgoers said they were disappointed last year when ice skating was not included in the festival.
“We are bringing back the synthetic ice skating rink,” Lowry said. “The skating will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It’s free. The (rental) skates will be free.”
Inflatables will be featured on the First United Methodist Church parking lot.
“We’re going to have inflatables for everyone, children and adults,” Lowry said. “This year it’s bounce houses, one for children and one for adults. I like to have one set aside for the little kids.”
She said vendor booths will be set up along Main Street between Mill and Walnut streets.
“There’s a petting zoo,” Lowry added. “It costs a quarter (to buy food) to feed the animals. There are pony rides for a charge.
“We have roaming characters, Tappy the Penguin and a Snowman. They’re characters you can take pictures with. There will be a face painter and a balloon twister – both of those are free. The face painter, balloon twister, roaming characters and fire performer are from Circus Kaput of St. Louis.”
Food trucks will be open for business at various locations around the festival area.
In addition, Santa will visit the Santa House in Schneider Park at the intersection of Main and Mill streets for the first time this Christmas season.
Lowry said the idea behind WinterFest is to offer local residents a low-cost day of entertainment.
“Our whole goal with WinterFest is to provide a fun, yet inexpensive day where families can get out and play all day,” she said. “December is a very expensive month with Christmas and property taxes and all the other stuff. So, Festus Tourism works hard to provide this day where families can come out and play.”
For more information, visit festusmo.gov.
“Well-behaved, leashed pets are welcome,” Lowry said.
The following is the WinterFest schedule of events:
■ 8-10:30 a.m. – Breakfast with Santa at First United Methodist Church.
■ 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Craft/food vendors, balloon twister, voting inside the library for the Best Decorated Cookie Contest.
■ 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Skating, inflatables, petting zoo, pony rides.
■ noon to 6 p.m. – Santa will be in the Santa House in Schneider Park.
■ 1:30-2:30 p.m. – The Tappy the Penguin character will roam around the festival.
■ 3-4 p.m. – The Snowman character will roam around the festival.
■ 4:30-5:30 p.m. – Fire performer.
Santa House schedule
After Santa’s 2023 debut at the Santa House at Schneider Park during WinterFest, he will return there throughout the season, offering parents a chance to take photos of their children with him.
He is scheduled to be there from 6-8 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays through Dec. 23.
“I always laugh and say it’s a chance for kids to bring their lists to Santa or to explain what happened to Santa,” Lowry said.
There is no cost for children to visit Santa, but donations for two charitable causes are encouraged.
“We do ask, if people are able, that they bring a canned good or other nonperishable item,” Lowry said. “That gets donated to the Ozark Food Pantry. Any cash donations go to Jeffco Shop with a Cop.”