Saturday's Winterfest Offers Activities for People of All Ages

Celebrate the season at Winterfest in downtown Saline, Saturday, Jan. 27.

Organizers from Saline Main Street have lined up an assortment of events and activities for people of all ages. Events take place in local businesses and churches and in various outdoor locations, including South Ann Arbor Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Most of the activities will be held between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Dave Eberlein is the team leader for WInterfest. He said this year’s event has more activities than ever.

“We truly try to have something for everyone,” Eberlein said.

One of the main attractions is the “medallion hunt,” which has been tweaked this year. Winterfest organizers have hidden a medallion in downtown Saline (between Harris and Lewis streets and McKay and Henry streets) in an area that is publicly accessible. Each day, between now and Saturday, Main Street will reveal clues about its whereabouts on its Facebook page.  Whoever finds the medallion and returns it to the Saline Main Street office will receive a $100 gift certificate to a Saline Main Street business.

“The Medallion Hunt has become a very exciting activity the week prior to Winterfest. Over the weekend before Winterfest a small group of Medallion hunt planners finally get to place the Medallion in it hiding place. This small group have made numerous trips to downtown to choose the best spot for this years hunt. I told them I want it harder to find this year. I think I got what I asked for,” Eberlein said.

Kids can also win prizes by participating in Winterfest events. Kids receive tokens for participating and can trade the tokens for prizes, including stuffed animals, die-cast cars, yo-yos and more.

Kids can participate in an obstacle course, broomball, football, hockey, darts, memory match games, corn hole, midway games,  make-and-take crafts, ping pong, pool, air hockey, and more.

The tokens can be turned in at Carrigan Cafe from 1-4 p.m.

There are also activities for adults, including puzzles, food tasting, ice carving demonstrations, a broomball tournament, a patio party, cold butt euchre and more.

(Visit www.salinemainstreet.org for the list of events and locations.)

“With every activity pretty much designed to handle all ages, everyone will find something to enjoy,” Eberlein said.

There are several new events this year, including face painting at  Mod Squad, ice sculpture demonstrations, food tasting, and a photo booth.

Nearly all of the Winterfest activities are free. To help pay for the event, purchase a Winterfest button which will entitle you to great deals, discounts and specials at more than 15 local businesses. The $5 button entitles you to a free entree at Mac’s Acadian Seafood Shack, for example. Buttons are available at participating downtown businesses.

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