EASTHAMPTON — Whether you want to feel chilled to the bone by taking a “polar plunge” or just relax with a horse-drawn carriage ride, the city’s 13th annual WinterFest this weekend offers a slate of activities for all.
Since its inception, WinterFest has become a beloved community event and the primary fundraiser for the maintenance of the iconic Nashawannuck Pond, located at the base of the Cottage Street Cultural District. The event is hosted by Friends of Nashawannuck Pond and the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee.
While the main course of events takes place on Valentine’s Day this Saturday starting in the morning, a slew of activities are scheduled leading up to the event each year. On the day of love this Saturday, visitors are invited to join the historical ice harvest on the pond, a polar plunge into the water, a community bonfire, nature walks in the area and more.
“Winterfest began as a fundraiser with two activities, an ice harvest and a fire by the pond,” said Beth Tiffany, a member of the Steering Committee. “It just continued to grow and evolve.”
Most of events on Saturday and leading up to the event are free of charge, but the groups raise funds primarily through sponsorships, donations and merchandise sales. Tiffany said the fundraiser is crucial to keep the pond maintained and accessible throughout the year to allow for continued community use.
Tiffany said that the idea for the festival originated with retired Steering Committee member Liz Provo. In conjunction with former CitySpace President Burns Maxey, who used to organize Easthampton’s Artwalk on the same night as WinterFest, the two wanted to go bigger.
“Art Walk and WinterFest used to be the same night, they’d have WinterFest during the day and a fire by the pond which would segue into the art walk,” Tiffany said. “As the story goes, Liz Provo and Burns Maxey wanted go bigger and here we are.”
In the first years of WinterFest, Tiffany said the day would raise about $10,000, which has grown to about $14,000.
Tiffany explained the difference between the two groups — the Friends of the Nashawannuck pond is a nonprofit that was formed several years ago to financially support the work of the Steering Committee, which acts as part of the city’s government. The city provides no funding for the steering committee out of the annual budget.
Amy Marsters, a member of the Steering Committee, said WinterFest has evolved over the years, often adding and dropping different events and activities. Along with several activities on Saturday, Marsters said there are also several tables around the pond and there will be a Riff’s food truck.
“We have lots of different iterations of WinterFest,” Marsters said. “When it was at its biggest, we offered an arts and crafts fair. With COVID we had to scale it way back and it could only be outside.”
Marsters explained one of the biggest additions since the pandemic is the polar plunge, which was pitched to the Steering Committee by the Easthampton Fire Department.
“We initiated the polar plunge about three years ago and we usually see about 100 people a year,” said Easthampton Fire Chief Christopher Norris.
Norris said there are two firefighters in wet gear that help guide plungers into the water with a ladder and there is a warming tent available right after exiting the water.
“I won’t be going in, I’m going to be too busy,” Norris said humorously with a laugh, but he knows several firefighters will be taking the plunge.
Recently, the committee received $78,000 in Community Preservation Act funds to restabilize one of the retaining walls of the pond that keeps soil from falling into the water. Tiffany said they are also eyeing rebuilding the viewing platform at the entrance of Brookside Cemetery, a structure that has been closed due to instability. But Tiffany said the platform is dear to many residents’ hearts, some of whom were married there.
Tiffany said she is grateful for the all the sponsors and volunteers that make the event possible, many of whom are local businesses and residents.
“It’s the perfect time of the year for people to get out,” said Tiffany, mentioning that this is a slow time of the year. “We really want to be there and helping the business community as well.”
For more information and to find the timing of several events visit the Nashawannuck Pond website.