The heartiest and most enterprising
souls among us realize winter can be not only a time of fun, but a time of
tourism! Why not get the people out of their huts and into the open, they
reason, if only for a brief while? The sun-deprived masses are bound to shell
out for a cup of chili or an admission ticket here and there, right?
I don’t know, but I’ll wait in line
for chili if you want to sign us up for the snowshoe demo. Hey, do you think
there’ll be fireworks later? I love fireworks.
Light
in Winter, January 20 to 22, Ithaca: Hold the phone Poindexter, this
sounds more like school than a festival. Not quite: while Light in Winter brings together scientists, artists, musicians,
dancers, etc. to collaborate on events in music, art, and science, the
organizers promise it’s fun and easy to follow.
This year’s theme is the natural
world. You can see gallery exhibits — like The Art of Fauna and Flora by the Guild of Natural Science
Illustrators of the Finger Lakes or a collection of watercolors based on
fractals — learn how to appreciate Middle Eastern music, hear from an
astrophysicist on the equation that couldn’t be solved, see a play about
Einstein, or enjoy a performance by NASA’s first artist-in-residence.
Daytime or weekend packages are
available or you can buy tickets for individual events. Tickets are available
online at www.lightinwinter.com or at the door.
Mendon
Ponds Winterfest, January 22: This festival is
all about getting people excited about winter activities. Everything is free.
Get information on or attend demonstrations in orienteering, skiing, camping,
snowshoeing, or geocaching; check out the Genesee
Valley Audubon Society, flame-working demos from the Corning Museum of Glass,
astronomy, ice fishing, ice boating, or curling; take the kids for face
painting, storytelling, or craft activities. 256-4950, www.mendonpondswinterfest.org
WinterCity, January 27 to February 9, Toronto: No, you can’t take the ferry, but a
drive to Toronto during the 14-day
celebration of “culture, creativity, and cuisine” will earn you serious cool
points. And all the pyrotechnics will leave your ears ringing — just like
when you used to be with the band.
Outdoor, weekend spectaculars like
The Tower of Light (a performance involving things like “buckets of fire,” “strobing lights,” and “silver rain”) and Il Corso (open-air production with actors, acrobats,
musicians, dancers on 10-foot poles, and “a wall of fire”) set the tone. A new
feature, the Ice Lounge, is an ice sculpture playground by day, a DJ-soundtracked nightclub by night.
Foodies can
revel in Winterlicious, a program where the top
restaurants offer prix fixe menus at $15 to $35. A WinterCity passport gets you discounts at restaurants and
landmarks throughout the city. Many outdoor performances are free.
416-338-0338, www.toronto.ca/special_events
Lakeside Winter Celebration, February 5, Rochester: This city-sponsored event at OntarioBeachPark
brings two beloved traditions together for one afternoon, the Chilly Chili
Challenge and the Polar Plunge. Hot chili, cold lake: what could be more
fitting a pair? Ice and snow sculptures and activities for kids typically round
out the day. The festival is free. Get information at 428-6755, or
www.cityofrochester.gov. Register for the Polar Plunge at 800-836-6976, or
www.polarplunge.net.
SyracuseWinterfest,
February 15 to 26: The organizers of the Syracuse Winterfest
ask: “Why Be Bored?” Why indeed? In a mere 12 days, this festival packs a whole
boatload of activities: ice-skating, museums, art exhibits, ski
and snowboard camps, live music. But this is Central New York, and you’ll feel
at home with the kinds of fun that keep it real: ping pong tournaments, card
tournaments, trivia, a Wing Walk, poker runs, and various food and booze cook-
and mix-offs. For out-of-the-ordinary diversions, get a team together for the
human dog sled race, hunt for a hidden medallion worth $1000, or help break a
record for the most simultaneous snow angels. Guinness, here we come.
315-466-9468, www.syracusewinterfest.com
— Erica Curtis
This article appears in Jan 11-17, 2006.
