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What happens when you bring together ice carving 300, a polar plunge, fashionable dogs (and cats?!), spectacular kids activities, fun music, and delicious local food on a winter’s day? You guessed it — the famous Camden Winterfest!
The Camden Public Library is excited to announce that the 22nd annual Camden Winterfest will take place on Saturday, January 25 from 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM with all of the beloved traditions PLUS bonus features including live jazz and a book sale, and MORE hot food than ever before!
Schedule of Events
9:30 AM – Ice Carving Teams arrive
10:30 AM – 2:00 PM – Participate or watch ice carving (professionals and amateurs!) and enjoy delicious hot food and fun music!
10:30 AM – Polar Plunge with Sundog Outdoor Expeditions
TIME TBD – Indoor activities for kids with Miss Amy including crafts and face painting! PLUS local favorite group ALL THAT JAZZ will be playing live in the library rotunda for those who want to warm up
11:30 AM – Line up for Doggie Fashion Show
12:00 PM – Doggie Fashion Show (participate or watch!)
TIME TBD – Story Walk with Miss Amy around the Amphitheatre and Harbor Park
Hot food, treats, music, ice carving, and indoor activities continue until 2:00 PM!
Scroll down for the full details on all the Winterfest happenings!
Sign up for Ice Carving!
Have you ever wanted to try ice carving? Winterfest is your chance to transform a crystal-clear, 300 lb. block of ice into a sparkling sculpture! No experience is necessary and all tools will be provided. Sign up for an ice block on your own or with friends, a group, school, or organization. It’s a blast for all ages! Thanks to help from First National Bank, we have reduced the price to $60/ice block for each team!
You can bring your application and fee to the library’s front desk, email it to jsagaser@librarycamden.org or snail mail it to ATTN: Julia Sagaser, Camden Public Library, 55 Main Street, Camden, ME 04843. Ice carving applications must be returned by Friday, January 10.
Pre-Register for the Doggie Fashion Show!
Check back soon for a link to sign up!
Winterfest Festivities begin on Saturday, January 25 at 10:30 AM in the Camden Amphitheatre!
This year, we’re kicking Winterfest off with a (cold) splash! The 7th Annual Polar Plunge FUNdraiser, put on by Sundog Outdoor Expeditions, will take place FIRST due to the tides. At 10:30 AM, Polar Plungers will run and splash into the frigid Camden Harbor to benefit Sundog. Join the brave or watch the show from the comfort of your coat!
After the drama at the harbor, hurry back to the Amphitheatre for delicious hot local food served up by volunteers from First National Bank. Chili, soup, grilled hot dogs, cookies, cocoa, and more will all be on the menu! All proceeds from food sales will benefit the Camden Public Library and parks. Thank you to all of the local businesses who are donating food to make Winterfest possible!
With your hot food and drinks in hand, watch professional and amateur ice carvers transform 300-pound, crystal-clear blocks of ice into sparkling masterpieces, while our favorite DJ Matt Brown plays his spectacular selection of music.
If you want to participate in the Doggie Fashion Show, start lining up at the signs 11:30 a.m.! The first 25 participants will win a prize. Outfits can be as simply or elaborate as your pet prefers. Cats are more than welcome, too! Everyone else, gather round for the spectacle! The famous Doggie Fashion Show will commence at 12:00 p.m. in the Amphitheatre.
After, kids and families can join childrens librarian Miss Amy for a wintery Story Walk through the Amphitheatre and Harbor Park! Check back soon for an exact time!
Visitors can always pop into the Camden Public Library to warm up, where All That Jazz will be playing live music in the rotunda and Miss Amy will be leading creative winter crafts and face-painting.
WITH GENEROUS SUPPORT PROVIDED BY:
AND IN-KIND DONATIONS FROM:
Camden Winterfest is made possible by the generous support of First National Bank, in-kind donations from French & Brawn Market Place, Buttermilk Kitchen at Marriner’s, The Bagel Cafe, Megunticook Market, Camden Deli, Hannaford in Camden, Rankin’s Hardware/Viking Lumber, and a dedicated team of volunteers.