WinterFest is on the way!
WALLACE — It has been said by some Wallace locals that the city lacks a true winter-time event. Many in the area simply hibernate around this part of the year until the city’s spring and summer festival seasons kicks up again.
In an effort to change this and bring some excitement not only to Wallace, but the Silver Valley as a whole, the city will be hosting its first “WinterFest in the Center of the Universe” event at the end of this month. Sheena Braulick, event organizer, said that the three-day WinterFest will be “a family friendly event centered around motor-sports.” The headline activities will include a skijoring competition (a winter activity that has a skier being pulled by a vehicle or animal through a set course) on the streets of Wallace, snowmobile and snowbike races in Mullan, and a snow sculpture contest.
Although Old Man Winter has not yet graced the whole Silver Valley with snow, things are still moving right along.
“People are getting very excited and looking forward to it,” Braulick said. “Everyone is definitely hoping we get snow, I think that is a big concern, but we are still about four weeks out so we are staying positive on that.”
The only events that will cost money for those who attend are the skijoring competition (a registration fee for participants only) and tickets to watch or participate in the snowbike races. Braulick stressed that everything else will be free and family friendly. “Going along with the fire station tour to the library event with children’s story time, and topping it all off with the new year’s eve party — no one needs to be excluded or left at home.”
As mentioned previously, part of the reason for this new event is to not only give locals something to do in colder months, but also to send a message to people outside the area.
“We are bringing into the spotlight that Wallace, and the Silver Valley, are a year-round destination,” Braulick said.
This inaugural event has also spurred locals to pitch Braulick other WinterFest activity ideas for the future. The addition of new activities will allow Winterfest to evolve and even maybe become a week-long event in the future. As with any event, helping hands are always appreciated to do this, that and the other.
Braulick says, “everybody is on board, but more manpower will be needed.”
If you would like to volunteer to help with the event, contact Braulick at 208-991-3810 or email wallace.winterfest@gmail.com.
For more information on the event and future updates, visit Wallace Winterfest on Facebook.
WinterFest’s
activity schedule
is as follows:
FRIDAY, DEC. 29
- Shopwalk through Wallace begins. Businesses keep extended hours all weekend.
- Snowman story time with crafts and snacks at the Wallace library at 3 p.m.
- Downtown Wallace pub crawl at 6 p.m.
SATURDAY, DEC. 30
- Mullan snowmobile races at 10 a.m.
- Cross-country excursion from Wallace to Mullan at 10 a.m.
- Snow sculpture contest on Sixth Street at 11 a.m.
- Wallace Fire Department building tour with s’mores and cider at 1 p.m.
- Northern Pacific Depot Pulaski Trail lecture at 3 p.m.
- Extreme skijoring competition in downtown Wallace at 5 p.m.
SUNDAY, DEC. 31
- Mullan Snow bike races at 10 a.m.
- Snowshow hike on the Pulaski Trail at 11 a.m.
- Extreme skijoring championship in downtown Wallace at 5 p.m. Awards ceremony at 8 p.m.
- New Year’s Eve party at the Wallace Elks Lodge at 9 p.m.