The weather outside should not be too frightful for this weekend’s Cooperstown Winter Carnival. It might be a little nippy with the forecast calling for temperatures in the low 20s, but there are no blizzards in sight.

``I can take it if it is in the 20s,’’ says event co-chair Tina Macaluso. ``It would be better if the temperatures would climb into the 30s, but I will take it.’’

Winter carnival festivities will begin Friday and run though Sunday. The annual event brings the community together for an entire weekend and gets people out of the house, says Macaluso. People tend to forget how cold it is outside because they have so much fun, she added.

This will be the 44th year the Village of Cooperstown has hosted an assortment of winter activities. The event has taken on several themes throughout the years, and will take on a western theme this year.

``We are trying to incorporate as many western-themed activities as possible,’’ says Macaluso.

New to this year’s festivities will be bucking bronco mechanical bull rides for $2 a ride. People will be able to take the ultimate cowboy challenge and see if they can ride the bucking bronco for eight seconds on Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. in the rib-eating contest, but in order to stick with the western theme, this year’s winter carnival will have a ``Blazing Saddles” Bean-Eating Contest instead. Participants must be older than 18 to participate unless a parent is present to sign a waiver. There will be an adult and youth competition for those who think they can eat the most beans in two minutes. The contest will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Doubleday parking lot.

The biggest new event we have planned for this year’s winter carnival is the ``Are You Smarter than a Cooperstown Fifth Grader Contest,’’ says Macaluso. Local contestants will challenge Cooperstown fifth graders at TJ’s Restaurant on Main Street. The event will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday and prizes will go to benefit the Cooperstown Lions Club. There is a $5 entry fee. For more information call, 547-6026. Dinner will be available while watching the show for $10.

Macaluso says since the Cooperstown Chamber of Commerce has discontinued its Snowfest weekend, which used to feature ice sculpting, the winter carnival staff has taken it upon themselves to bring the crowd pleaser back. People have often mixed this event up as a winter carnival event and keep asking where it has gone, says Macaluso.

She says it was not a winter carnival event in the past, but members from Iceography have been hired this year to create cowboy-themed ice sculptures at Lakefront Park on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

Hopefully we get a little more snow for our winter activities such as sled racing and the snowman-making contest, says Macaluso.

A snow sculpting contest will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday on Main Street. To enter, visit the Carnival Kiosk in Pioneer Park for a sculpting assignment. An award of $25 will be given for best adult, youth and business sculpture.

The snowman-making contest will be held from 9 a.m.

to 3 p.m. on Saturday on the Village Library lawn. Registration for ``The Sled Stampede’’ Youth and Adult Races will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday in Lakefront Park.

Macaluso says the popular Carnival Cooler and Drink Contest will feature line dance lessons this year. The ``Wild Wild Winter Hoedown’’ Carnival Cooler and Drink Contest will be held from 7 p.m. to midnight on Friday at Templeton Hall, which is located at 63 Pioneer Street. There will be a $5 entry fee, which includes drink samples. Participants must be 21 and older.

Typically, local businesses donate little items to raffle, but this year we are going to have one big 50/50 raffle instead, says Macaluso.

According to Macaluso, the most popular activities include anything involving food and the SPCA dog show.

People seem to enjoy coming year after year for the Dessert Lovers Bonanza, says Macaluso. This event will be held from 3 to 4 p.m. at the Farmers’ Market building in Pioneer Ally on Saturday. There is a $5 fee.

The SPCA Dog Show will be held at 12:30 p.m. in the Doubleday parking lot. Categories will include best western costume, owner look alike, smallest dog, largest dog, best singer and best trick.

Another must see event is the annual parade held at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The parade will begin at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue, and make its way down Main Street to end at Cooper Park.

``The parade is a way for the whole family to get out and have some fun despite cold weather,’’ says committee member Mike DeSimone.

In sync with the Winter Carnival’s Wild West theme, the parade will be dubbed the ``Carnival Corral.’’ The parade will be judged, with prizes including $125 for first place, $75 for second and $50 for third.

Fireworks will be held at Lakefront Park at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

Macaluso says the winter carnival is a great event because a lot of the money earned is put right back into the community somehow. The festivities will be wrapped up during the ``Last Stand” Chili Contest on Sunday. The closing celebrations will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. at Hoffman Lane Bistro.

For a full schedule of events visit cooperstowncarnival.org.