By Gordon Dritschilo
Staff Writer

The Rutland Recreation Department is undaunted by the prospect of another Winter Fest without snow.

“It’s supposed to be 54 (degrees) and raining,” recreation director Cindi Wight said Tuesday, looking at the weather forecast for today. “I’ve got a pretty good feeling what we’re going to have will disappear.”

Regardless of whether any snow survives, or if any more falls, the 11th annual Winter Fest runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Giorgetti Park. Snowshoeing may not happen, but there will still be a curling clinic, an obstacle course and a story walk.

“We’re encouraging people to get out of doors in the winter time,” Wight said. “Whether there’s snow or no snow, go outside and play.”

New this year is broom ball.

“It’s a game on ice with broomsticks,” Wight said. “It’s similar to hockey but you’ve got no skates.”

Paintball is back from last year, as is the “wife carrying competition.”

“We’ll be setting up an obstacle course and you carry your wife,” Wight said. “This year we’ll also have teddy bears and the kids can do a teddy bear carry. The kids felt left out last year but we didn’t want kids carrying kids.”
Giorgetti Arena will open from 2 to 4:15 p.m. Participating in three activities at Winter Fest earns free admission for skating at the rink.

“It’s all ages,” Wight said. “The older kids like doing the paintball, the younger kids like climbing up on the snow piles.
It’s an all-family event.”

gordon.dritschilo@rutlandherald.com