Break cabin fever with Canton Winterfest events through Feb. 19

CANTON – If the mid-winter blues have got you climbing the walls, organizers of the Canton Winterfest have come up with a slate of activities that will entertain the whole family.

Featuring free movies, sledding, music, a snowman contest, church concerts and more, Canton’s annual Winterfest will feature 13 days of events today through Feb. 19.

“It’s the one time when we all get together to break cabin fever,” said Sally Hill, chamber executive director. “It’s a great community event. We get a wide range of ages.”

For a complete listing of events, click here.

New this year, says Hill, is a Senior Sweetheart Sale sponsored by the Canton Senior Citizens Club that includes a bake sale, along with sales of Avon and Tastefully Simple food party, at 35 Riverside Dr. from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Perhaps one of the most beloved events is the night of church concerts, Feb. 14, as a bagpiper leads people of all faiths from church to church to hear local performers.

“A lot of older people love the music, but there are always kids dancing in the aisles,” Hill said. “And it’s always amazing to hear the sounds of the bagpiper throughout the village.”

For young people, there will be a free movie at the American Theater on Saturday, Feb. 19 at 10 a.m., sponsored by St. Lawrence County Reality Check; a Guitar Hero tournament Friday evening, Feb. 18, sponsored by the Seaway Valley Prevention Council; and twilight sledding Feb. 19.

Popular returning events include several wine tastings and many more opportunities to eat.

“We really love to eat this time of year,” said Hill. There will be a chicken and biscuits dinner at the VFW Friday, Feb. 11, the Rotary pancake breakfast Sunday, Feb. 13, the Noble Hospital Guild soup luncheon and the VFW Ladies’ Auxiliary fish fry on Friday the 18th, and a comedy and dinner show at the Best Western Saturday night the 12th.

Sporting activities include skating at the Pavilion indoor and outdoor rinks, the Snowman Contest starting Feb. 10, polar golf Feb. 16, and a Frozen Foote four-miler Feb. 12.

Other highlights include the Grasse River Players’ presentation of the comedy “Postmortem,” Friday and Saturday Feb. 18 and 19, a hootenanny at the Blackbird Cafe Feb. 11; events at Little River School, a scrapbook “adventure” at the Knights of Columbus, game night at TAUNY, and the cribbage tournament at the VFW; a presentation of Women in the Civil War, part of St. Lawrence County Historical Association’s year-long commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the beginning of the Civil War, at Silas Wright House Feb. 17; Canton Goldenaires Singing Valentines Monday, Feb. 14 (call 386-2802 to arrange for one); the huge FFA garage and craft sale in the middle school cafeteria, and a children’s program of Valentine crafts and activities by the St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House.

Meanwhile Winterfest button sales are going well, according to Hill.

“Don’t forget to buy some,” she said. Button sales are a major fundraiser for the chamber during Winterfest.