Friends of Willard Brook plan Winter Carnival festivities

Winter weather is finally upon us, and snow is in the forecast! Soon, the community will gather at Pearl Hill State Park for Friends of Willard Brook's Winter Carnival Plans are almost completed for this outdoor event to be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 10

Volunteers are still needed to bake goodies, work at the refreshment stand, or help out with the children's games - bean bag toss, cutting snowflakes, "ice" fishing and pinecone bird feeders are a few. Help is needed at the "Friends of Willard Brook" table, providing Friends' membership forms, collecting donations, showing off the great prizes to be drawn at day's end.

Festivities include: meet DCR's Search and Rescue dog; rent snow shoes or crosscountry skis (provided by the Ski Loft); view the Winter Weeds exhibit; enjoy stories around the campfire; take a guided cross-country ski trip (one for experienced skiers and one for novices); take a cross-country ski lesson; go on a guided snow-shoe hike; meet Smokey the Bear; learn about New England Wildlife up close; go on a guided nature walk (one for children with parents and one for older folks); raffles; enjoy hot soup, cocoa, coffee and baked goods (refreshments for sale); and play some children's games - "Toss the Bean Bag at the Snowman," "Guess That Bird," make a Pine Cone Birdfeeder, go ice fishing, cut snowflakes; and draw a snow scene (25 cents). Also in the works, but not definite yet: ice sculpture demonstration, dog sledding demonstration; ice fishing demonstration (only if the ice is thick enough).

For more information, or to volunteer, please contact Emily Norton at (978) 597-3553.