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The Snow Returns and so does Syracuse Winterfest in February

John Smith/WAER News

Have you ever wanted to attend an ice block party outside in the cold?  Maybe you never thought of it, but you’ll get your chance next month at the 34th Syracuse Winterfest.  President Bill Cooper says the location for the block party is outside the Marriott Syracuse Downtown.

“Well, they’re making a huge ice-bar which will be featured for the cold-spell.  Then, they’re blocking-off Warren Street with food trucks, a warming tent, entertainment… culminating with fireworks off the parking garage."

Cooper adds the venue will also allow participants to step inside from the cold for more events.

“The Miss Syracuse Winterfest Pageant, the world’s largest team trivia finals that’ll be here, along with the cold spell mix-off.”

Winterfest is adding a snow sculpturing event for families on the second Saturday of the festival outside the Everson Museum.  Visit Syracuse President Danny Liedka says the organization is trying a new approach to attract out of town visitors.

Credit John Smith/WAER News
President of Syracuse Winterfest, Bill Cooper

“So, we will have targeted travel journalists as well as social media influencers during Winterfest.  They’re going to help bring some national attention to this event.  Obviously, our goal is help this grow and succeed.  It’s been so successful, we’d like to help take it to another level.”

…And tourists to the event will also be of great benefit to businesses, according to the Downtown Committee’s Merike Treier

“And our hope is that a positive experience of bringing people into Downtown Syracuse with fun competitions, exposure to our downtown businesses, exposure to our entertainment venues, that translates into more visitation for the downtown district.  As more people come into downtown, they’re able to discover a new shop or a new restaurant as they’re participating in all of these Winterfest activities.”

Winterfest’s Cooper says the low price of the events are a draw.

“You’ve got 1,000 to 4,000 people in the streets every day, hundreds of events going on… attracting people.  Any place could have anywhere from a hundred to a thousand people in each establishment.  You start adding those numbers up and seeing that revitalization in the Syracuse community and everybody having fun at a reasonable price that they can do with their families and all indoor and outdoor activities.” 

Credit John Smith/WAER News
A crowd gathers in the Persian Terrace at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown for the Syracuse Winterfest Press Conference.

Winterfest is set from February 15th through the 25th and will also have events in Clinton Square such as the chili cook-off.  More events will be added to the schedule.  Click here

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.