12th Annual Homer Winterfest

Homer, New York. With the arrival of winter, preparations are in full swing for the upcoming 12th annual Homer WinterFest in the village of Homer, NY.

Once again this year promises to be fun for the whole family. Locals and visitors alike with find a full slate of traditional activities and updated events. Look for WinterFest brochures at Phillips Free Library and many local merchants. Our website, www.homerwinterfest.org, continues to be the source of latest information on Homer WinterFest.

The action kicks off on Friday night (February 3rd) with the Homer Elks fish fry from 5:30 to 8. Returning this year: Homer Historian Martin Sweeney will take visitors on a walking tour of Homer’s Haunted Past. Two tours are included this year due to the popularity of this event, at 5:00 and 7:00 at the Village Green bandstand, so arrive early. Warm up at the huge community bonfire sponsored by the Homer Fire Department. At 7:45 the skies will light up with the annual fireworks display brought to us this year by Little Big Shots. After the show come to the Homer American Legion for the community dance from 7-9.

The festival ramps up on Saturday morning (February 4th)starting with the firemen’s pancake breakfast from 7-11 at the Community Building. The popular flea market at the Homer Senior Center runs all day from 9-4 and offers pizza, cinnamon buns and more. The Main Street parade starts at 10:15 am, and while on Main Street stop in at the Phillips Free Library annual book sale.
Bundle up the kids and bring them to the Homer Elementary School for the expanded children’s events featuring Moreland the Magician at 11:30 and Wacky Chad at 2:00. The fun includes cupcake decorating with Frosted, crafts with Lime Hollow, games, fortune telling, pony rides, hot dogs, free popcorn, and much more.

Events on the Homer Village Green include free ice skating, hot refreshments by the Homer Youth Center, displays by Lime Hollow, and demonstrations by Cortland Youth Hockey at 11:30. Form a team with friends and enter the Human Dog Sled Race at 11:00, with categories for all ages.
Shop dozens of antique and craft vendors at the Homer Intermediate/Middle School from 9:30-4:40. Lianani’s will offer hot and cold food and drinks, and Frosted Bakery will feature cupcakes. Brush the dust off your old antiques and have them professionally appraised for a small fee by Lee Benson or Tony Ferro at our “Antiques Road Show” from 11:30-2:30. Frank Hoxie and Greg Greene will be buying old gold and silver.

Food and drink are not in short supply at Homer WinterFest on Saturday. Check out the Chicken BBQ at Heritage Realty and the pork/beef/ribs BBQ at the Center for the Arts parking lot. Taste and judge local chili at the HoBeau’s Chili Cook-Off from 12:30 -2:00. Enjoy a Victorian Tea at the Brewster House from 1-3 or sample local wine and beer at the American Legion from 1-4.
Wind down your evening at the Homer Elks Clamfest from 4-8 (call about pre-sale clamfest tickets 607-749-4200).

Homer WinterFest Chair Eric Mulvihill says, “Once again this year the Winterfest Steering Committee has worked hard to put together a family and community minded event that looks to preserve the traditions of the past while looking to improve on what we offer. This winter has been off to a slow start, but rest assured Winterfest will carry on regardless of the weather. We can’t wait to see our friends and neighbors once again this year, so grab a hat and a warm coat and head out to Homer for Winterfest”.