The Home Page Network

*SPECIAL THANKS to Rebecca Hazen and Tim McBride for their photos of last year’s event!
Tired of being stuck inside and looking for some winter fun? Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting the 2nd annual Wellsboro Winter Celebration on February 18-21.

“The first year event was very well attended,” said Julie VanNess, the Executive Director of the Wellsboro Area Chamber of Commerce. “It was a great collaboration between multiple organizations and volunteers. I think all that attended had a wonderful time and it was nice to have the town buzzing with activity on a cold Saturday in February.”

Throughout Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, there will be a plethora of events for the whole family.

For those of you who are interested in jazz music, there are three opportunities as a part of the Endless Mountain Musical Jazz Fest for you to listen to some great performers. On Thursday, Feb. 18, at 8 p.m.The Cory Band will perform at Steadman Theatre at Mansfield University. Tickets are $15. Call 570-787-7800. On Friday, Feb. 19, the Mansfield University Jazz Ensemble and X-Ray Big Band will perform at the Coolidge Theatre in the Dean Center at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25. Call 570-787-7800. A Saturday night performance will feature the Bram Wijnands Trio at the Penn Wells Hotel dining room. There will be a pre-show dinner at the Penn Wells at 5 p.m., with the performance starting at 7:15 p.m. Tickets are $25.

The majority of the Wellsboro Winter Celebration events are occurring all day Saturday, February 20.

“This year the event brings more to the table with the addition of the Waste Management Winter Rally, the Jazz Fest, pony rides, and 14 participants in the Chili Cook Off. The event continues to grow with additional community support and added activities. I can’t wait to see what next year brings,” VanNess said.

Waste Management Winter Rally will hold its Parc Expose around the Green from 11 a.m. to 12 pm. For more information visit wmwr.info. While your outside, check out the ice carving demonstration on Main Street from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will also be outdoor activities and games on the Green from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. If there is snow, there will be an cross country ski mini clinic. This will be great for beginners to try the sport out!

From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. KC101 and The Fifth Season will present the Great Snowball Hunt. Find 101 snowballs hidden around downtown Wellsboro. Every snowball wins a prize! You have the opportunity to win $101!

If you need a break from the cold the chili contest, Chili with a Chance of Chocolate, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at participating downtown businesses. Tickets are $5 and are available at the Chamber of Commerce. Pair your chili up with some free hot chocolate and some cookies, free at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Or, if wine is more your thing, there will be ice wine tasting at The Fifth Season from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sample different ice wines for free and enjoy refreshments.

For little ones, there will be a Deane Little Beans Magical Winter Celebration magic show with games and snacks at 10 a.m. in the Deane Center. To register for the event call 570-724-6910. There will also be crafts and story telling at the Green Free Library at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. If your children like horses, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. there will be pony rides in the Sherwin Williams parking lot, weather permitting. A ride will cost $5. Proceeds benefit the Wellsboro Riding Club.

At 7 p.m. there will be contra dancing lessons at the Coolidge Theatre in the Deane Center. The dancing will start at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday, Feb. 21, at 8:30 a.m. there will be a Mt. Tom Challenge. Climb up the trail that ascends 1,100 feet from Ansonia Valley to the summit. At 10 a.m. the last part of the EMMF Jazz Fest will be the Family Jazz Brunch with a jazz artist performing, plus princesses and pirates. Cost is $17.00

“The nice thing about this event is that it offers something for everyone. We wanted to remind people that Wellsboro offers wonderful wintertime opportunities for the entire family,” VanNess said.

You can visit this Wellsboro Chamber of Commerce website for more information and a schedule of the activities.

SPECIAL THANKS to Rebecca Hazen and Tim McBride for their photos of last year’s event!