BY THOMAS RHODES
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Taking a page from the creed of the U.S. Postal Service (that “Neither snow nor rain nor gloom of night” stuff ), organizers for the Cooperstown Winter Carnival, the threeday event that begins Friday, might look at recent weather forecasts and come up with their own creed for the event: “Neither sun, nor warmth, nor the desire to wear short-sleeves shall prevent the Winter Carnival from …” _ well, you can guess the rest.
No matter the chosen creed or theme, it is Winter Carnival time in Cooperstown. It is that time of year when the entire village turns its legendary summertime Hall of Fame Weekend aura upside down to celebrate the Upstate aura of frozen lakes, the icy sculptures and the food to warm your insides in the always-popular heated tent outside of Doubleday Field.
While the weather outside has been anything but frightful, the annual festival promises yet another weekend of events and activities that will appeal to all ages, tastes and abilities.
There’s even a chance for a game of Reality Show elebrity Watch.
FRIDAY
Festivities for the 46th event will tastefully begin at 11 a.m. Friday, with a Soup ‘n’ Chili Luncheon at the historic First Baptist Church at 19 Elm St.
It will move to historic Lakefront Park, where the coronation ceremony of the Carnival King and Queen will give two local high school students the crowns and scepters to reign over the annual festivities.
A fireworks display, a traditional summer warm-weather fling, will bring the coronation festivities to a close. Following the coronation, festivities will move farther inland (and indoors) with a screening of the Disney film “The Princess and the Frog,” beginning at 7 p.m. at the National Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum.
Other 7 p.m. options include a bowling tournament at the Clark Sports Center or Cooperstown Candlelight Ghost Tours. Ghostly tourists will meet at Cooper Park and Main Street. The tours will also take place Saturday and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Events strictly for the grown-ups will take place later in the evening, beginning with the Calypso Clash Carnival Cooler & Drink Contest, from 7:30 p.m. to midnight, at the old Agway Building, 28 Railroad Ave., featuring music, dancing and fanciful adult beverages, and the Bud Lite Platinum Sampling from 8 to 11 p.m. at Sherman’s Tavern.
SATURDAY
Festivities will begin bright and early with the Cooperstown Lions Club Pancake Breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. at the Veterans Club on Main Street. The breakfast will repeat Sunday.
It is a great chance to reconnect with the community and find out what everyone is doing during the rest ofthe fest.
All-day events include ice skating in the Chestnut Street parking lot (next to the Chamber of Commerce offices), the Badger Cup Hockey Tournament at Badger Park (Saturday and Sunday), discounted entry into the National Baseball Hall of Fame ($5 off with a festival pin),the Winter Carnival Farmers’ Market from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Bossa Nova Snow Sculpture Spectacular from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street, the Fenimore Quilt Show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Cooperstown Art Association at the Village Library.
Other outside (weather permitting) events include the Cross Country Ski Race at 1 p.m. at the Clark Center, and the 1.5-mile snowshoe or hike on or around Otsego Lake. Participants should meet at Brookwood Point at 1 p.m. for the hike.
Saturday daytime highlights include the Bossa Dromo Parade down Main Streetat 11 a.m., the Children’s Disco from 11:30 to 1:30 p.m. at the Cooperstown Fire Hall, the Homerun Hitting Contest from 2 to 4 p.m. at Lakefront Park, the HOOPLA Free Throw Contest at 3 p.m. at the Clark Center, the SSCPA Wine Tasting Benefit from noon to 3 p.m. at Nicoletta’s Restaurant, and the World Cup Dessert Lover’s Contest at the Farmers’ Market from 3 to 4 p.m.
The Doubleday Field parking lot will be transformed into Carnivale HQ Saturday, as the heated tent will host a variety of events, including the Fat Tuesday Beans & Rice Eating Contest.
The SSCPA Dog Show will take place at 12:30 p.m. and a book signing with the Fabulous Beekman Boys (of the Discovery Channel realityshow fame) will be held from 2 to 4 p.m.
Evening activities include the Heat Up the Night event at The Farmers’ Museum featuring music, activities and food from 5 to 7 p.m., the SSCPA Spaghetti Dinner from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Templeton Hall, and Movie Float Night at the Clark Center, which will feature the colorful animated film “Rio.” Bring your bathing suit, because the pool will be open.
Adult-only events include the Carnivale Lip Sync Show from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Old Agway Building, the Bud Light Platinum Jambalaya Eating Contest at 5 p.m. at Cooley’s Tavern, the DUVEL Pouring Contest from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Pit at 34-36 Pioneer St., and the Frevo Festival of Music at Cooley’s, Cooperstown Back Alley Grill, Doubleday Café and The Pratt/Sherman’s Tavern.
SUNDAY
The annual Winter Carnival will come to a close on Sunday with outdoor events, including the Rapido Youth and Adult Sled Races at 11 a.m. at Lakefront Park, and the Bob Smullen’s 5k and 10k Run at 12:30 p.m. at Pioneer Park.
Valentine’s Day shoppers can avoid the last-minute rush by partaking in the Valentine’s Open House from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 79 ChestnutSt., with Glimmerglass Chocolates, Quirky Works Jewelry and Mary Phyllis Hand Knits. Festival-goers will have an excellent opportunity to support local youth at the TREP$ Marketplace at 1 to 3 p.m. at the Middle School/ High School Gymnasium. It’s a marketplace of goods produced by the Cooperstown school entrepreneurship program.
The kids will also have a chance to get behind the mic during the Kid’s Karaoke from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge Building.
Food and spirits will bring the annual Winter Carnival to a close with the Diablo Chicken Wing Contest from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Back Alley Grill, and the Bayou Bash Chili Contest and Carnivale Closer from 3 to 5 p.m. at Brewery Ommegang.
The festival closing event will feature awards presentations, raffle prizes and still more music (featuring Owen Nied and Cuttlebone). No matter your taste and no matter the weather, there will be plenty to savor from the 2012 Winter Carnival. For more information, visit cooperstowncornival.org.
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