101st Annual Greenfield Winter Carnival
About This Event
| DATE: FEBRUARY 3rd – FEBRUARY 5th, 2023 LOCATION: Events all over the city, all weekend long!  Schedule of Events Brochure (Large file – could take a few moments to download)
Be a part of a tradition that began 101 years ago! We need your help – Volunteer at the Carnival Today!
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Important Winter Carnival Update
| Due to forecasted temperatures the following changes are being made to Winter Carnival: • Live ice carving will still happen on Friday morning and sculptures will be able to be viewed throughout the weekend. • Friday’s Glow Party planned for Beacon Field is being moved indoors to the Greenfield Middle School Cafeteria. Please use the entrance at the back of the school by the playground. The dance party will still take place on Friday from 5:30 pm-7:00 pm with DJ and LED Party Robot. • The Parade of Lights and Fireworks will be moved to Saturday evening. The Parade will begin at 6:00 pm with Fireworks at 7:00 pm. Luckily, Saturday morning activities are indoors where it is “Warm & Toasty” and the weather forecast for Sunday looks great! Thank you for your understanding and patience as we continue to evaluate weather conditions and make changes accordingly. Mother Nature loves to throw us curve balls and keep us on our toes. We hope one year everything will go off as planned. |
Enjoy throughout the Weekend
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Friday, February 3rd Events
All day – Live Ice Carvings Downtown – Artists will be sculpting ice throughout the day in front of our downtown sponsoring businesses. Check out the Ice Walk Map. Vote for your favorite in our online contest by 10:00 am on Sunday, February 5th.
9:30 am-5:00 pm – Take and Make Craft Kits – Stop by the library to pick up take and make craft kits featuring pipe cleaner snowflakes and icicles! Available while supplies last.
4:00 pm – Torch Lighting – A celebratory torch provided by Suburban Propane will be lit on City Common to mark the beginning of the 101st Annual Winter Carnival.
4:00-8:00 pm – Carnival on Court Square and Ice Bar – Back for a second year, Court Square and the Ice Bar have become a new favorite place to chill during Winter Carnival! Enjoy specialty crafted cocktails and mocktails with fire dancer performances and fire barrels to keep you warm and toasty all evening. Cocina Lupita will also be serving up some warm hearty winter treats.
5:30-7:00 pm – Warming Fire – Warm up by the fire at Beacon Field. Bring your own marshmallows and hotdogs. Sticks will be provided.
5:30-7:00 pm – Glow Party at Beacon Field – Let it glow, let it glow, let it glow! DJ Jason Antes will provide music for a one of a kind glow in the dark dance party as you wait for the Parade of Lights to arrive and the Fireworks to begin! Hit the snow covered dance floor and show the Party Robot your best moves! Free glow accessories available or come decked out in your own!
6:00 pm – Parade of Lights – Kick-off the festival with displays that will surely light up the night! Decorated vehicles will travel from Newton School, along Main Street, down Federal Street, on to Beacon Street, and ending at Beacon Field. Lighted vehicle entries are needed. Entries will be judged with prizes awarded in multiple categories. Rules and application available here. Whether you are in the parade or just observing, it’s an event you won’t want to miss!
7:00 pm – Fireworks Display – The kick-off continues at Beacon Field for a dazzling Fireworks Display being shot from Poet’s Seat Tower. It’s a display that’s sure to captivate all ages.
8:00 pm – GZA at Hawks & Reed – GZA, aka the Genius, is a rapper, songwriter, and founding member of the hip-hop group Wu-Tang Clan. GZA is known for his cool, precise flow and intricate, literate rhymes. Among hip-hop aficionados, GZA is revered for his flawless technique and lyrical dexterity, and is considered by many to be the best pure rapper in the entire clan. Tickets are available at Hawks & Reed for $40-$50. Doors open at 7:30 pm.
Saturday, February 4th Events
| Family Fun Fest at 20 Sanderson Street Suggested Donation of $5 per person, $20 per family
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10:00 am – 
10:00 am-12:30 am – 9:00 am-2:00 pm – Youth Basketball League Games – Stop by the Middle School gym to watch the Greenfield Recreation Youth Basketball teams play against local rivals. Admission is free.
9:30 am-2:00 pm – Take and Make Craft Kits – Stop by the library to pick up take and make craft kits featuring pipe cleaner snowflakes and icicles! Available while supplies last.
10:00 am – Virtual Jigsaw Puzzle Contest – Assemble your team to compete for the Winter Carnival Piece Prize! This virtual puzzle contest will put your puzzling skills to the test as teams of up to 4 compete to complete a 550 piece puzzle the quickest, all from the comfort of your home via Zoom. Team pre-registration required. Registration fee is $20 and team gets to keep the puzzle.
See complete details below:
• Each team will receive the same puzzle.
• Puzzles will be available for pick-up at the Recreation Department January 31st-February 2nd from 8:00 am-4:30 pm and will be concealed in plain packaging.
• Absolutely no peeking or opening the exterior package before the start time of the competition. Puzzles must stay in the package until everyone opens them together on the Zoom Screen. Teams who open early or packages that show signs of tampering will be disqualified.
• The Zoom link will be emailed to teams on Thursday, February 2nd. This link may not be shared with others. Please test your computer in advance to ensure your camera and microphone are working properly. During the competition, please ensure your microphone is on mute.
• A maximum of 4 people may work on the puzzle.
• Virtual judges will be monitoring the event and watching as teams get close to finishing. When your team is close to finishing, please raise your hand or send a message in the chat.
11:45 am-12:30 pm – Family Dance Lesson at Dawn’s School of Dance – Learn a special dance with Miss Dawn! All ages and dance levels are welcome. This is a simple but very fun routine that will get you moving and put a smile on everyone’s face. Bring your friends, your siblings, and even your grandparents! You won’t want to miss out on this free hoppin’ and poppin’ dance spectacular!
12:00 pm-6:00 pm – Carnival on Court Square and Ice Bar – The Carnival returns to downtown Greenfield with the Court Square Ice Bar serving up winter-themed cocktails and mocktails! Hot ciders and hot chocolate free for children under 10. Cocina Lupita will be serving up some warm hearty winter treats. Fire barrels and marshmallow roasting, games, entertainment, and evening fire spinner performances. Come out for the Carnival on Court Square and walk through to downtown to see the ice sculptures and window decorations, and support our local purveyors.
1:00 pm – Lasermania at Middle School Auditorium –Dive into a wonderful world of lasers with a laser concert guaranteed to bring the house down! The show will feature astounding animations set to a compilation of current hits. It will be a forty-minute musical celebration with the world’s most mind-blowing portable laser party! Immediately following the presentation will be an extended 20 minutes of STEM fun with interactive laser science demos and a behind-the-scenes peek at laser science secrets! This program is supported by the Greenfield Public Schools Title I Program.
1:00 pm – Cribbage Tournament – Give it a go! Is it in the cards that you will end up a peg ahead or will you be skunked? This event is fun for all ages! $15 Registration. Boards and cards provided. Custom Pioneer Valley Wood Art Championship and Runner-up Cribbage Board/Trophies awarded. Held at the John Zon Community Center.
2:00 pm-6:00 pm – Fire & Ice Bowling – Greenfield Fire Department fundraiser in support of building the new museum – Come to Court Square and Bowl for a great cause. Pre-register your team of two at www.hawksandreed.com for $20 Adv – $25 Day of event. Tournament style competition to see who will be the first Winter Carnival bowling champion! Kids Lane Bowling available where everyone’s a winner! Come out and bowl and support your community! The Dude abides!
3:00 pm – Fatbike Group Ride – Bicycle World will be leading a group ride through the Greenfield Ridge. The ride will depart from Bicycle World, 104 Federal Street at 3:00 pm. Bring your own equipment.
6:00 pm-9:00 pm – Corey Knapp at Main Street Bar & Grille – Enjoy live music by local artist Corey Knapp at Main Street Bar & Grille. Enjoy great music, great food, and great drinks!
6:30 pm – Jammin – Winter Ball – A Celebration of Bob Marley’s Birthday at the Hawks & Reed Ballroom – Come warm up to the sounds of the legendary Bob Marley. A Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Considered one of the pioneers of reggae, his musical career was marked by fusing elements of reggae, ska, and rocksteady, as well as his distinctive vocal and songwriting style. Tickets are available at Hawks & Reed. Doors open at 7:30 pm. A portion of proceeds support Greenfield Fire department fundraiser in support of building the new museum.
Sunday, February 5th Events
8:00 am-10:00 am – Adams Donuts with Olaf – Adams Donuts has generously partnered with the Greenfield Recreation Department to help raise some dough for Winter Carnival! Pre-order your special Half-Dozen Winter Carnival Donuts for $15.00 beginning Monday, January 25th on the Adams Donuts Website: https://www.adamsdonuts.com/order-online. Quantities are limited, so pre-order early. Olaf will be at Adams Donuts on Sunday, February 5th from 8:00 am-10:00 am for Winter Carnival order pick-ups with Olaf delivering the donuts right to your vehicle! Greenfield Public Schools Title I Program will sponsor a give away to go along with those delicious donuts from Adams Donuts. Each donut order will receive a book or math flashcards.
10:00 am – The Garden Cinema presents a Free Showing of Happy Feet Sponsored by Dawn’s School of Dance – “Happy Feet” is set deep in Antarctica. Into the land of Emperor Penguins, where each needs a heart song to attract a soul mate, a penguin is born who cannot sing. Our hero Mumble, son of Memphis and Norma Jean, is the worst singer in the world…however, as it happens, he is a brilliant tap dancer!
12:00 pm – Snowshoeing Trek or Winter Hike – Meet at Highland Pond parking lot at 12:00 pm for a 60-90 minute free guided walk around Rocky Mountain Trails. Bring your own snowshoes!
1:00 pm-5:00 pm – Four Phantoms Brewing Dark HeARTs Market – Visit the Dark HeARTs Market at Four Phantoms Brewing Located at 301 Wells Street in Greenfield. This market will feature work from local artists, makers, and local vendors. Plus, Vegan Pizza land will be on site with delicious pizzas for purchase! A huge part of Four Phantoms mission is dedicated to supporting artists in our community, and hope you’ll consider doing the same.
2:00 pm-6:00 pm – Winter Carnival – Tea Dance at Hawks & Reed – Join Hawks & Reed and Holyoke Lesbian Meetup for a local get together and dance that is fun and welcoming for lesbian/queer women-identified people. While they recognize and appreciate the complexities and beauty of all genders, their aim is to create an enjoyable space specifically for women and women adjacent individuals who love women. Trans women and non-binary folk who connect with femininity are part of the community.
7:00 pm-10:30 pm – Madhouse Local Concert Series – Western Massachusetts has long been a musical destination with a vibrant community of performers, aspiring and established. The Madhouse Local Concert Series seeks to showcase this community while helping aspiring musicians to find their place within it.
BEACON FIELD EVENTS – 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
Ongoing – Sledding & Outdoor Ice Skating – Come enjoy the Beacon Sledding Hill and our Ice Rink. Available all winter long! Bring your own sleds or skates.
Ongoing – Snowman Village – Help build our annual snowman community at Beacon Field. Bring your own decorations and design your own snowman. Construct your own member of the Winter Carnival’s Snowman Village.
Ongoing – Snow Sculpture Contest – First come, first claimed for pre-built snow mound (weather permitting) or make your own. Add your own fun accessories. (Food coloring only for colors please – do not use paint). Start as early as you would like. Judging begins at 3:15 pm.
Ongoing – Warming Fire – Marshmallow Toasting by the warming fire. Sticks and Marshmallows provided.
Ongoing – Music with DJ Jason Antes! – Come enjoy live upbeat music.
Ongoing – MA Army National Guard Tent – Visit the Army National Guard tent for a special Winter Carnival giveaway!
Ongoing – Snack Bar – Tasty treats available for purchase from the Kiwanis Club!
12:00 pm – Cookie Bake-Off – Enter to win our Cookie Contest. Drop off your favorite cookies to Beacon Field at 12:00 pm. Bring a minimum of 2 dozen cookies per entrant. All cookie types welcome. Please share recipes or ingredients. Categories: Most Original, Best Overall and Best Decorated! Click Here for the official rules and registration!
12:00 pm – Chili Cook-Off – Come sample chili prepared by our local community members who will be competing for bragging rights for “The Best Chili Around”. To enter the Chili contest, please contact the Recreation Department. Click Here for the official rules and registration!.
Ongoing – Horse Drawn Sleigh or Wagon Rides by Hubbard Farm. $3 per person, under 2 free.
Ongoing – Vintage Snowmobile Show & Rides – Take a trip down memory lane at the Vintage Snowmobile Show sponsored by The Snowmobile Association of Massachusetts and the Bernardston-Gill-Leyden Snowmobile Club. Stop by and relive snowmobiling from the past to the present. Listen to the stories from seasoned snowmobilers. Learn about riding locally and throughout the state. Vote for your favorite snowmobile in the People’s Choice Competition.
12:30 pm – Community Wide Tug of War – Gather ‘round for a good old fashion pulling contest!
1:00 pm – K9 Keg Pull – Run, dance, do whatever it takes to urge your dog across the finish line. Event sponsored by the Friends of the Paws Park, Coldwell Banker, Hitchcock Brewing, and the Greenfield Recreation Department. This event has proved to be great fun with dogs of all shapes and sizes sprinting for glory pulling appropriately sized “kegs” – for a Chihuahua, that’s a beer can, while mighty rotts or shepherds pull full-size kegs (all empty of course). $10 Registration Fee with funds benefiting the Paws Park: Register day of or online in advance. A donation box to the Franklin County Regional Shelter will also be on site. Come watch possibly the most adorable event of the day at Beacon Field. Please be considerate and pick up after your dog.
1:00 pm – Ice Bowling – Come experience ice bowling on our ice rink! Can you get a strike on ice?
1:30 pm – Broom Ball – Attempt to sweep away your competition in a round of broom ball. No skates needed, only sneakers or boots!
1:30 pm – Cardboard Sled Check In – Check In Cardboard Sled Entries at Sled Check in Station. Save time by pre-registering your sled on-line. Pre-registration available until Wednesday, February 1st. Click Here to Pre-Register
2:30 pm — Cardboard Sled Contest – Race your cardboard sled down Beacon Hill! Your creativity is limitless! Just about anything goes!! NOTE: If no snow, bring your sled to the field to be judged on creativity and construction.
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The RULES are as follows:
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| • | Sled MUST be made of cardboard. Papier-mâché, tape, glue, and paint are also permitted. | |
| • | Sleds may not have plastic wrap, wood or other bottom surface material, or runners (unless cardboard). Tape is ok. | |
| • | Parents may help children build their sleds. | |
| • | One Entry per person |
Prizes will be awarded for the following categories:
Youth – Under 16: Fastest, Most Creative, Zaniest, and Best Crash
Group – 2 or more all ages: Fastest, Most Creative, Zaniest, and Best Crash
Adults – 16 and over (single riders): Fastest and Most Creative
Corporate Challenge: Best Design
Overall People’s Choice: Vote for your favorite at the field
3:45 pm – Awards Ceremony – Announcement of the Ice Carving, Parade of Lights, Cardboard Sled Race, Vintage Snowmobile Show, Cookie Bake-Off, Chili Cook-off, and Snow Sculpture Contest winners.
| Winter Carnival Souvenirs Souvenirs on sale Sunday, February 5th at Beacon Field. Travel Mugs, Winter Carnival Hats, Greenfield Recreation Hoodies, Long and Short Sleeve Winter Carnival Shirts available. Adult and Youth Sizes.Support Winter Carnival by participating in our Can Raffle! The raffle will be set-up at different events throughout the weekend. Many fantastic prizes donated by local businesses. All proceeds help to support Winter Carnival.Winter Carnival Encore Event Monday, February 6th 6:30 pm – The Garden Cinema presents the silent film The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog by Alfred Hitchcock with Accompanist Jeff Rapsis sponsored by Precision Driving School.Thank you for supporting Winter Carnival. Events like this are made possible by generous contributions from the community. Donations are still being accepted.  THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
Nor’Easter Sponsors Blizzard Sponsors
Snowball Sponsors Frosty Friends Ice Sponsors
A very special thank you to Recreation Commission Director of Recreation – Christy Moore
Check out our programs all year long!
We create community through people, parks, and programs! |
Event Details
Date & Time: February 3, 2023 - February 5, 2023Event Categories: Family Events, Festivals & Fairs, Recreation
Event Website: Event Website
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