Business - Winterfest events cover the weekend of Feb. 1-3

Four groups are involved in the planning of Winterfest – the Saratoga Springs City Center, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Business Association and the Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau.

JJ Buechner, the chair for the Downtown Business Association participating in Winterfest, said something new this year is ‘Winterfest Storytime’.

“We basically wanted Sunday to be for children,” he said. “Children can hear three different children book authors downtown.”

There will be an author at Crafter’s Gallery, Celtic Treasures and Circus Café. All the authors are local and will have readings at their respective location throughout the day. Buechner said there are a lot of authors in Saratoga Springs, so it was a great fit.

“Why read a Dr. Seuss book when you can read something by someone local,” he said.

Buechner said there is a coloring contest going on to for the children and winners will be displayed at local businesses.

Buechner said there is so much to do downtown and Winterfest highlights the businesses and locals. He said Chowderfest is the big thing on Saturday and gives people a chance to try something at a restaurant they’ve never gone to before.

“Winterfest is a reminder of the beautiful atmosphere downtown,” Buechner said.

Dawn Oesch, president of the DBA, couldn’t agree more.

“Winterfest is exciting and is a time for families to get out of the house,” Oesch said. “It definitely beats cabin fever.”

Oesch said there are plenty of fun activities to do downtown, plus Chowderfest.

“The Bartender’s Ball is a ton of fun too,” she said.

Joseph Dalton, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, said the Bartender’s Ball, which is scheduled for Saturday night of Winterfest weekend, is a great event. Each year a non-profit gets the proceeds from the ball.

Universal Preservation Hall is this year’s recipient.

“Five thousand dollars is being set aside and going towards a major concert on the Sunday of Winterfest 2009,” Dalton said. “I think that will round the weekend out nicely.”