Center Harbor Skatefest 2015 - Saturday Feb 21
 

The Center Harbor Skatefest event is coming up this Saturday (Feb 21) from 1-4 at the Center Harbor ice rink and beach, within view of the Mount Washington's winter home. There is no charge to attend. Hope to see other Forum members there.

The CH fire department is building an all-afternoon bonfire on the beach and the pavilion will be converted into a warming and food hut. Skating areas are the town rink along Route 25 and a prepared area of Lake Winnipesaukee, just off the town beach.

One of the special treats of the day is a figure skating demonstration, on the town rink at 3PM, featuring two regional skating clubs, the Magic Blades Figure Skating Club and the Plymouth State Skating Academy.

Local businesses are providing complimentary hot food, like chili, chowder, hot dogs and s’mores, along with water, hot chocolate and coffee and souvenir buttons.

Dress warmly, the weather forecasters predict (five days out) a partly sunny day with a high near 18. Portable rest rooms and a first-aid station are available.

Here is a bit of the story behind the scenes. Planning for Skatefest started in early January, less than six weeks ago, at a meeting of the newly formed Center Harbor Community Development Association. This is a group of businesses from Center Harbor and West Moultonboro, CH select board members, a local church and others with community spirit.

Center Harbor is well known for its Fourth of July celebrations, but the outdoor facilities don’t get much use during the winter. The group thought it would be fun to have a winter event that attracted families and teens into downtown Center Harbor. From that, the result is Skatefest 2015. Many businesses donated money, goods and services and the CH Parks and Recreation department, along with the fire and police departments agreed to help make it happen. Skatefest is the first event for the CH Community Development Group and hopefully will evolve into a yearly event.

There is a Facebook page for the event < www.facebook.com/CHSkatefest >, with more information about Skatefest and some pictures. Please “like” the page (if you do) and click “going” or “maybe” on the event page to help the planners get a rough estimate of how many will attend.

Thanks to Forum Master Don, for permission to promote Skatefest here. Questions about the event are welcome.

What a great time!

I hope it can be an annual event!