Celebration shift

Winterfest has changes to its schedule this year — some planned, some not.

The annual celebration has several new events this season. But, because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the traditional Kids Breakfast and Karnival has been canceled. Also canceled is the Winterfest Ball, which was slated as a new event this year.

One new activity, Candy Lane Shop Local, is a two-week event offering shoppers who support local businesses the opportunity to win gift certificates.

“(We wanted) to help the small businesses get a jump start for the holidays so everybody can get their shopping done and enjoy the local festivities,” said Winterfest committee chairman Pat Daniels.

Game boards can be picked up at the chamber office or at Jay County Antique Mall starting Friday. After receiving stamps on the board from 10 of 47 participating businesses, residents can return the board to the chamber and be entered in a drawing for a chance to win gift certificates.

The shopping special will run from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and Dec. 4, and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 5.

“When you’re out doing the events, you can swing into a store and check out what they have,” said chamber executive director Tabby Sprunger.

Another new Winterfest activity added to this year’s lineup is the Candy Canine 5K Run/Walk, a fundraiser hosted by the chamber and Jay County Humane Society on Dec. 5. Participants are encouraged to bring along their dogs for the 3.1-mile course.

Registration and check-in begins at 8 a.m. at Jay County Community Center, 115 E. Water St., Portland. Tickets are $10 for those 10 and younger and $20 for adults.

Community center executive director Kyle Cook said the race will follow the same path as past 5Ks, like the Hudson Family Park 5K.

Although the Winterfest committee is hosting two new events this year, it also had to cancel a few events for safety reasons. After consideration of Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb’s Nov. 15 mandate requiring social gatherings to be limited to 50, the committee felt it would not be possible to host the Kids Breakfast and Karnival this year. After factoring in volunteers and current social gathering limits as set by the state, only about 20 children would have been able to attend, Sprunger said. (There are usually several hundred children in attendance.)

Also canceled this year is the Winterfest Ball, scheduled for Dec. 11, because of safety concerns.

However, the silent auction for the Pregnancy Care Center and carriage rides are still on from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Dec. 11 at Jay County Event Center.

Christmas at the Courthouse begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Jay County Courthouse. Grounds on the Fly will be providing coffee and Bizy Dips will offer cookies and apple cider. Emery Forthofer, Little Miss Winterfest 2019, will be lighting the Christmas tree about 6 p.m., and Shanna Young will begin the community sing about 6:15 p.m.

Attendees can also walk through the Festival of Trees while visiting and vote for their favorites.

“I think with this whole year, you know, community has meant so much more,” Sprunger said, adding that she thinks events like this help bring Jay County together as a whole.

Various other Winterfest festivities will span three weekends. The remainder of events are scheduled as follows:

•Little Miss Winterfest will kick off this Saturday at the Fellowship Baptist Church starting at 2 p.m. Doors will open at 1:45 p.m. Seventeen girls signed up for the competition this year, Sprunger said.

•The Parade of Lights will begin at 6:30 p.m. at East Jay Middle School and proceed north on Meridian Street to the former Marsh parking lot. The Jay County High School Marching Patriots, and the arrival of Santa, will highlight the parade.

•Visits with Santa will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 5 and Dec. 12 at the Santa House on Main Street. Santa will sit on the porch and children can sit on the bench across from him — parents and children waiting to talk with Santa may wait in their vehicles to keep warm. Any family that drops off a letter with a return address at the Santa House mailbox may get a surprise back in the mail, Sprunger added.

•Christmas Home Tours are still on from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 6. Five local homes will be open to visit.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s a lot of fun to put together, too,” Daniels said about Winterfest. “We’re all in this together, and it’s so nice that people are pitching in and taking responsibility.”