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Waupaca to host Winter Rec Fest

Outdoor fun, food, fireworks at Swan Park

By Angie Landsverk


CN-WP-winterfest-160204Waupaca’s Parks and Recreation Department will hold its second annual Winter Rec Fest from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at Swan Park’s sled hill.

“This is a free, community event. We want to bring families together at the sled hill and have a good time,” said Andrew Whitman, the city’s recreation program supervisor.

Winter Rec Fest will include outdoor activities, food and fireworks.

Faith Community Church will hand out 20 free sleds to the first 20 families who arrive.

The church is also partnering with Park and Rec once again to sell food and hot beverages under the heated tent, Whitman said.

Tim Lencki, owner of Adventure Outfitters, will also be back to lead two free snowshoe hikes on the park’s trail system.

The first hike will be at 4 p.m. and the second one at 6 p.m.

Whitman said Lencki will have limited equipment available.

People who have their own snowshoes are encouraged to bring it with them.

New this year will be a fat tire bike course.

Lencki will set the course up on one of the baseball outfields, allowing people to try it out, said Whitman.

That will take place from 3-5 p.m.

Describing it as a “new craze,” Whitman said it will give people an opportunity to try something new.

Like last year, there will also be a bonfire with ingredients for s’mores available.

“To finish off the night again, we will have fireworks again, at 7 p.m., shot off from the top of the hill,” Whitman said.

Beneficial Reuse Management (BRM) will cover the cost of the fireworks, which will also serve as a training exercise for the people who shoot off Waupaca’s fireworks on July 4.

BRM, of Milwaukee, contracts with Waupaca Foundry and other companies to find uses for the industrial byproducts of the companies.

Several years ago, BRM approached the city with idea of building a sled hill in Swan Park.

BRM has worked with the foundry since 1999 and is always looking for potential projects which are in proximity to the foundry.

Foundry sand from the local foundry was used for the project, and the sled hill opened in November 2014.

Whitman said the short fireworks show will be a good ending for the event.

“It’s neat to see something like that in the winter,” he said.

Whitman encourages people to listen to WDUX and to follow the parks and recreation department’s website (www.cityofwaupaca.org/parksnrec/) or Facebook page in the event there are any cancellations.

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