The lack of snow did not stop La Porteans from enjoying the La Porte Parks and Recreation Department’s annual Winterfest celebrationthroughout the city.
From softball games to ceramic classes, the La Porte Parks and Recreation Department provided several activities for attendees to enjoy. Families ditched their snow gear for beach toys at the Winterfest Family Beach Day held at Stone Lake Beach.
These events are meant to encourage families to get involved in the community. La Porte’s Recreation Director Pam Carroll was happy to see so many people out and about, especially with it being late January.
“We like to get people outside to get some fresh air. That’s what Winterfest is about: getting the community out and getting rid of those winter blues that we always have around this time of year,” Carroll said.
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In her 32 years of planning Winterfest, Carroll had never seen such a warm, sunny day for the event. Despite the temperature, hot chocolate was still readily available.
“We get some years where there’s no snow, and we’ve had others where there’s twelve inches of snow. As far as today, it’s pretty darn warm, and it feels pretty darn good,” Carroll elaborated.
Little La Porteans played disc golf and tug-of-war, did the limbo, flew kites, and skipped pebbles across the somewhat frozen Stone Lake. La Porte Parks and Recreation Administrative Assistant Tabitha Aguilar was glad to bring her children, Austin Aguilar and Cai Lile, out to enjoy Winterfest. Her family regularly participates in Parks and Rec activities, such as the department’s art camps at Cummings Lodge.
“Winterfest gets everybody out together,” said Aguilar. “We’re getting to play with new kids, meeting new faces, and keeping everybody out in the parks. We’re utilizing the park, and my kids at the beach on this beautiful day instead of inside playing video games. That benefits everybody.”
As active attendees of Parks and Recreation events, Aguilar’s children look forward to every opportunity that the department gives them to get out and get moving. The kids were especially happy that the weather changed things up a bit for this year’s Winterfest.
“My favorite thing about Winterfest this year is building sandcastles and playing in the sand on the beach,” said Cai Aguilar.
Aside from the Family Beach Day, participants stopped by the department’s free Barre Class. The class has been increasingly popular, so La Porte’s Parks and Recreation Department opened it up to the public to show more people what the class has to offer.
Although most of Winterfest went on as planned, the Ice Sculpting event has been postponed until February 9, and the annual Polar Plunge at Stone Lake Beach was cancelled.
With or without snow, Winterfest always provides those within the city of La Porte and the surrounding area with great opportunities to engage in their community.
