Later this week is the final community event with Jefferson Matters.

Event Team Chair Phillip Heisterkamp says the Winter Festival has moved to a new location to Clover Hall for Friday and Saturday. Team member Kristin Lang encourages everyone to give a free-will donation that will be given to Greene County Adopt-A-Family, which she explains that this organization sees a high financial need during the Holiday Food Basket program.

“Our planning committee spent quite a bit of time talking about what is the purpose of our event? What impact do we want to make on the community? And we all agree that we really want to be giving back to the community. I think all year we want to be giving back, but especially around the holidays. That’s where that need really bubbles up for families in the community.”       

Lang points out Friday from 4-7pm, everyone can vote for their two favorite decorated trees, along with crafts for kids, hayrides, and Santa Claus will be there as well. Then from 7:30-10pm is an adult time that Heisterkamp notes will have appetizers, holiday cocktails, and games included for individuals 21 and older. Lang details Saturday’s activities from 10am-4pm will have similar activities from Friday, however, Santa will not be there and hayrides are from 1-4pm. 

Heisterkamp points out a new feature this year is the purchase of a sock skating rink.

“We tried this out, it was pretty amazing! It’s a sock skating rink. You just take your shoes off and you’ll be sliding all around, good for kids, good for adults. I’d say even my three-year-old could handle it.” 

The two-day event is free and open to the public.