by Sylene Argent
Not everyone may be a lover of the colder weather, but members of the Harrow Rotary Club and the Harrow & Colchester South Chamber of Commerce may have found a way to help chase away those winter blues.
On Saturday, Victoria Street was closed to vehicular traffic, from King Street to Centre Street, allowing the Harrow Rotary Club to host its first Valentine’s Ice Fest.
All members of the community were invited to enjoy the festivities, which included road hockey, face painting, a football toss, free popcorn and hot chocolate, and a vendors’ market.
In addition, the event allowed families to watch ice sculptor, Rich Reinelt of Festive Ice Sculptures, use his 35-years-of creative experience to transform a plain block of ice into a snowman. They were also able to participate in a scavenger hunt that had participants visit local businesses and write down a word inscribed on a heart in the window for a chance to win a prize.
Liss Fischer, President of the Harrow Rotary Club, said the local organization – that puts service above self – wanted to host a winter event to not only celebrate Valentine’s Day, but would bring members of the community together to have a little bit of outdoor fun.
She was thrilled with the response from the community, which proved interest in the first event with steady foot traffic throughout the course of the five-hour festival.
“There is something for everybody to enjoy,” Fischer said, watching as community members took a photo with a giant heat display. “We wanted to bring the community out to have some fun.”
She thanked the community for its support, including the Harrow & Colchester Chamber of Commerce for providing the hot chocolate, and volunteers from both clubs for helping organize and execute the festival.
She hopes to see everyone take advantage of its upcoming events, such as the annual Greg Horoky Colchester Walleye Fishing Derby is in June.
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