Whitehouse, B.G. events to showcase frozen fun

Communities carry on with cool celebrations

Whitehouse’s Wacky Sled Races feature some imaginative entries, such as a pirate ship or this caboose.

Whitehouse’s Wacky Sled Races feature some imaginative entries, such as a pirate ship or this caboose.

Cold weather does have its benefits. Whitehouse and Bowling Green aim to demonstrate as much next week when both communities hold their 2014 Winterfest celebrations. For Whitehouse, the festivity is in its fourth year; for Bowling Green, this is year six.

Whitehouse will have a big tent in the parking lot of the village’s public library at 10651 Waterville St., the centerpiece of its festival, which runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 15 An adults-only dance is set from 7 to 11 p.m., according to Barbara Knisely, the village’s community development coordinator.

Bowling Green’s celebration, WinterfestBG, dubbed “the Coolest Weekend of the Year,” opens downtown at 4 p.m. Feb. 14 with an ice-carving demonstration in the Huntington Bank courtyard, 1050 N. Main St., and continues from dawn to dusk on Feb. 15-16.

“This is a fun community gathering, and we have some new things,” said Jamie Sands, supervisor and marketing coordinator at the Bowling Green Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Highlights in Whitehouse will include the so-called Wacky Cardboard Sled Races, a chili cook-off, horse and carriage rides, and ice sculptures. Ms. Knisley said.

The logo for WinterfestBG, Bowling Green's annual festival.

“The sled races are probably the biggest draw. We can have 100 to 150 people watching and 30 to 40 participants. Some of the designs are really imaginative. One year we had a pirate ship. We’ve also had a caboose and a tow truck. An award is given for the most creative,” she said.

The evening adult Cabin Fever Dance is $20 per person and $35 per couple and will be at the American Legion Hall, 6910 Providence St.

The deadline for buying tickets is Feb. 10. Tickets can be purchased at the village hall, 6925 Providence St., or at whitehouseoh.gov.

Ms. Sands said the ice carving is a perennial favorite at the BG festival. More than 25 sculptures will be put on display on South Main at 6 p.m. the first day of the Winterfest. A second carving demonstration will be held at 10 a.m. Feb. 15 in the bank courtyard, where free carriage rides will offered from 6 to 8 p.m.

The Bowling Green events include fund-raisers, such as a pancake breakfast Feb. 15 from 8 to 11 a.m. in the high school cafeteria to benefit the girls softball team. A new event this year is the Penguin Party at the Wood County District Public Library, 251 N. Main, on Feb. 16 from 2 to 4 p.m.

“It’s a penguin costume contest geared to family and kids,” Ms. Sands said. For a complete WinterfestBG schedule, see the Facebook page at WinterfestBG or visit visitbgohio.org.