DERRY — Organizers planning the town's annual Frost Festival are hoping the chilly temperatures continue.
The 11th annual festival is set for the weekend of Feb. 12-14 with plenty of family-friendly, cold weather activities planned inside and out at several locations.
This year's schedule includes a weekend full of sledding, snowboarding, skating, ice fishing, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, ice sculptures, the annual Frost Ball at Promises to Keep on Route 28 and much more.
All activities except the Frost Ball are free and open to all ages.
Frost Festival fun begins on Friday, Feb. 12, with a spaghetti dinner for senior citizens, hosted by the Derry Village Rotary Club.
Saturday's fun begins with snowboarding competitions, then afternoon entertainment by local performers and renowned talent. Sunday's schedule is full of winter fun, including hockey and skating at Beaver Lake, ice fishing, snowmobile rides and demonstrations sponsored by the Derry Pathfinders Snowmobile Club, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, and a sled dog demonstration at Hoodkroft Golf Course.
Indoor activities include arts and crafts, Frosty bingo and the crowning of the Frost Festival king and queen on Sunday afternoon at Alexander-Carr Park. Miss Greater Derry, Krystal Muccioli, will crown the newest king and queen.
People can stop at the Depot Square Steakhouse and admire the talents of the Ice Breakers master sculptors as they carve intricate magic out of blocks of ice. Free hot chocolate will take the chill off.
Children can receive an event card and have it punched at each location. Prizes will be awarded to children who participate in events at each park. Cards can be picked up and turned in at the Derry Parks and Recreation office in Veterans Hall.
Frost Ball tickets are $35 and available through the Derry Municipal Center at 845-5401, or through Derry Parks and Recreation at 432-6136.
Frost Festival events and activities include:
Friday, Feb. 12: Spaghetti dinner. Derry Village Rotary Club serves up pasta at 5 p.m. at Gilbert. H. Hood Middle School for area senior citizens. Call Derry Parks and Recreation to register at 432-6136.
Saturday, Feb. 13: Snowboarding competition at Alexander-Carr Park, register at 9 a.m. with competition at 10 a.m.; afternoon entertainment includes Steve Corbett's science show and Wildlife Encounters, Veterans Hall, free admission, 1 to 3 p.m.; Frost Ball held at Promises to Keep, 6 to 11 p.m., appetizers, dinner, dancing.
Sunday, Feb. 14: Open ice hockey and skating, must provide own equipment, helmet; ice-fishing clinic, hosted by Beaver Lake Improvement Association, Gallien's Town Beach, noon to 3 p.m.; Chili Bake-Off, noon to 3 p.m. at the beach; donations accepted for Sonshine Soup Kitchen.
The day also includes snowmobile rides and demonstrations, sponsored by Derry Pathfinders, noon to 4 p.m. at Hoodkroft golf course; cross-country skiing and snowshoeing at Hoodkroft, noon to 4 p.m.; sled dog demonstrations, 2 to 4 p.m. at Hoodkroft; sledding and snowboarding at Alexander-Carr Park 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., bonfire at noon. Indoor activities planned from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Alexander-Carr in the park's heated lodge. Ice sculptures at Depot Square Steakhouse, created by Ice Breakers, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A shuttle bus service will be provided between Gallien's Beach, Hoodkroft and Alexander-Carr Park.
