Staying warm and celebrating winter

Feb. 17—Last-minute preparations for Winterfest were underway Friday afternoon inside Family & Community Christian Association and — as if on cue — twinkling snowflakes unexpectedly appeared.

"I just found this," event coordinator Katie Allen said as staff members on opposite sides of the office stretched a blue-and-white banner about 20 feet long, with strings of foil snowflakes in silver, white and blue hanging from it. "We're trying to figure out where to put it."

Allen had already narrowed the possibilities: Winterfest, the free event that has been spicing up a February weekend in Meadville since 2017, is an all-indoors affair this year. Its return last year from a two-year pandemic hiatus proved a little too wintry, according to Allen.

"We decided to go inside because last year we attempted to go outside, and it was so cold, everyone froze," she said. "We don't want anyone to get frostbite."

With flurries expected early today, Allen was confident it was the right call despite recent warmer-than usual days that have idled snow blowers and shovelers across the region.

"Mother Nature paid attention when I scheduled Winterfest this year," Allen said. "We're not getting a 70-degree day this year."

With Chestnut Street closed between Liberty Street and Diamond Park, the event will retain the neighborhood feel of recent years as visitors move up and down the block to visit FCCA, Meadville Family YMCA and the Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville.

Mark McGinty, program coordinator for the Soup on Saturday events at the church, called the collaboration between the community-oriented nonprofits located within a few doors of each other, "the Chestnut Street connection." It's a connection forged through the common goals of not only the three buildings hosting today's event but also numerous other nearby organizations that will be on hand inside as well, with crafts, activities and more.

"Our goal is to provide for the community as much as we possibly can," McGinty said. "We're fully realizing the awesomeness of what we're all doing together — we're collaborating together and doing a lot of good stuff for the community."

Sometimes what community members need is a hot bowl of soup. McGinty's Soup on Saturday program, which launches in the UU parish house March 2, is intended to supplement the work of Meadville Community Soup Kitchen at Stone United Methodist Church, which provides free meals on weekdays. Winterfest will provide the new program a dress rehearsal of sorts, according to McGinty.

"This is a warm up for that," he said. "We're gearing up and seeing how we're going to do it."

Plans call for a different variety of soup each week; for Winterfest, the selection is a traditional favorite: chicken noodle soup with crackers. The church will also have children's crafts.

If soup isn't your cup of tea, FCCA will have hot chocolate to warm visitors up as well as hot dogs, cotton candy and popcorn. Tree Family Party Piggies, a Cochranton-based pig entertainment business, will be on hand with Willow and Perry, and therapy dogs will be present too. Between the many activities, the family photo booth and a raffle, a relaxing visit with canine or porcine friends may prove just what some visitors need.

"There's a lot going on," Allen said.

YOU CAN GO

Winterfest takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. today. Chestnut Street between Liberty Street and Diamond Park will be closed to vehicular traffic for the free event. Crafts, activities and free food and drink will be available at Family & Community Christian Association, Meadville Family YMCA and Unitarian Universalist Church of Meadville.

Mike Crowley can be reached at (814) 724-6370 or by email at mcrowley@meadvilletribune.com.