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Winter Rec Fest

Waupaca Parks and Rec hosts event

By Angie Landsverk


The Waupaca Parks and Recreation Department will host its third annual Winter Rec Fest from 3-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at Swan Park’s sled hill.

“Sledding will be a big draw for the families. We will be handing out 15 sleds in the beginning for families that come,” said Andrew Whitman, the city’s recreation program supervisor.

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

Food and beverages will be available for purchase in a large, heated tent.

Boy Scout Troop 634 will sell the food, including hotdogs, popcorn and hot chocolate.

“We will also have a bonfire going and s’mores for people,” Whitman said.

Tim Lencki, owner of Adventure Outfitters, will return again 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 some equipment on hand, and it will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Those who have their own snowshoes are encouraged to bring them along to the event.

“He’ll also have some fat tire bikes there from 3-5 p.m. again for those who want to try it out,” Whitman said.

Lencki will have the fat tire bike course set up on one of the baseball outfields, he said.

This year’s Winter Rec Fest will also include sled dogs.

Dean Johnson, who lives in the Waupaca area, will have some of his sled dogs and equipment at the event.

Whitman said Johnson contacted him around the time of last year’s event and expressed an interest in being part of the event.

“It was definitely on the list for this year,” Whitman said. “It’s something unique to the area that many people probably don’t know about.”

People will be able to ask him questions about the dogs, as well as about sled dog racing.

A presentation will also take place. That is scheduled for 5 p.m.

As in the previous two years, Winter Rec Fest will include fireworks.

“They will shoot them off at 5:30 p.m. from the top of the sled hill,” Whitman said.

The approximately 10-minute show will again be used as training for members of the Waupaca Fire Department who will handle Waupaca’s annual July 4 fireworks show.

While Winter Rec Fest will wrap up at 7 p.m., those in attendance are welcome to sled on the hill until 8 p.m.

The sled hill, which opened in late 2014, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The hill is lit from dusk until 8 p.m.

There is no cost to use the sled hill.

Whitman encourages area residents to atend the city’s Feb. 11 winter event.

“Winter Rec Fest is just a free community event to get people together in the middle of a cold Wisconsin winter,” Whitman said.

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