There once was a time when Highlands was a sleepy mountain town from January to April.
Some of the long-time locals joke about rolling up the sidewalks after Christmas and not rolling them back out until Easter “back in the day.”
But as progress, and a continued tourism boom, have shifted the dynamics of Highlands those slow days have become fewer and far between. This past New Year’s weekend was one of, if not the busiest, ever. And while Monday to Thursday may not see the hustle and bustle of summertime, the long weekend visitors continue to fill the streets in January and February when the weather is palatable.
Recognizing the growth in winter tourism, the Highlands Chamber of Commerce decided to host a seasonal event in January. What began in 2022 as a small winter festival, “Snow Fest” at Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park is back for 2023 with added activities aimed at showcasing all Highlands has to offer in the colder months.
Snow Fest will blanket the park in frozen precipitation (either natural or manufactured) thanks to several industrial snow-making machines. There will be snowball packing stations and a subsequent “snowball toss” along with a snow tube merry-go-round, a snow slide and s’more making area with donations going to the Highlands School Booster Club. A live DJ will provide a soundtrack to winter fun and the Highlands ice skating rink will be open for anyone looking to take a few laps around.
New this year is the addition of “Snow-ga” a cold weather take on an outdoor yoga class. While “hot yoga” has been all the rage in recent years, snow-ga will flip the script and allow participants to relax and reset in a winter wonderland setting.
Snow Fest will take over Founders Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and the early weather forecast looks perfect for outdoor fun with temps in the 40’s and mostly clear skies.
Winter in Highlands keeps getting busier, and snow fest hopes to become an annual part of that continued activity.