Bigger and better.
That was the goal of the Highlands Chamber of Commerce and Visit Highlands NC when planning got underway for the second annual Snow Fest at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park.
As Saturday and Sunday showed, the festival was a “mission accomplished.”
“We had an estimated 500 visitors come to Snow Fest on Saturday alone,” Highlands Chamber of Commerce Communications Director Kara Addy said. “We brought in different snow making capabilities and reorganized the layout of the festival. So many volunteers, partners, and attendees pitched in and helped make it a true winter wonderland.”
Snow Fest was blessed with near perfect conditions in 2023. Saturday featured temperatures in the 50’s and sunny skies. Children took turns on the snow tube merry-go-round operated by volunteers from the Mountaintop Rotary Club, made snow angels, joined in snowball fights and took advantage of the snow slide.
The Highlands School booster club operated a s’more making station and collected donations, while hot chocolate was provided by Highlands Cashiers Hospital and the Eckerd Living Center and hot apple cider was provided by Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Meadows Mountain Realty.
Rachel Kinback from Yoga Highlands led “Snow-ga” classes each day and a DJ provided the soundtrack to the festival from a temporary shelter.
The Highlands ice rink was the most popular attraction for older kids looking to get out and enjoy the winter weather. Highlands has had a colder than average winter thus far in 2022-23, but no measurable snow, so Snow Fest presented many children their first opportunity of the year to enjoy the precipitation.