Winter Carnival

36th Annual Winter Carnival
February 1, 2 & 3, 2019


Theme: "Myth & Magic"
All activities take place at the Colchester High School, except for Sunday's Open Skate (at Leddy Park in Burlington).

The annual Colchester Winter Carnival is a winter tradition that brings hundreds of families out to the Colchester High School campus for a weekend packed with activities, food concessions, arts & crafts, and other family fun, both inside and outside.  Each year, a theme is chosen by the Winter Carnival committee, and visitors are encouraged to join in the fun by dressing up to match the theme!  The most popular event of the weekend is the Friday night Colchester's Got Talent show, which puts Colchester's most talented residents on the stage for a night of music, dance, and performance!  Auditions are held in January.  Cash prizes are awarded to the top three performances in each age group!
Sound like fun?  Join our Winter Carnival Planning Committee and help us organize a truly stunning event!  Email Mike, our Committee Chair for more info, or visit our "Volunteer Opportunities" webpage.

Friday, February 1, 2019: Colchester's Got Talent!
Location: CHS Theatre  |  Show Starts: 6:00pm


Thank you to LCATV for filming the show again this year!  The video is now available to stream online (below):

Congratulations to our 2019 Finalists!

Youth Division: Grades 2 - 4
1st Place: Trenton Terry
2nd Place: Lucas Moran
3rd Place:  Anna Porter

Junior Division: Grades 5 - 6
1st Place: Sawyer Cyphers & Gunnar Perren
2nd Place: Trinity McCarthy
3rd Place: Isabella Chicoine

Young Adult Division: Grades 7 - 9
1st Place: Jennifer Martel
2nd Place: Logan Crocker
3rd Place: Ryan Baldasty

Adult & Family Division:
1st Place: Troy & Sabrina Cyphers
2nd Place: Upscale (quartet): Carol Hollenbeck, April Knight, Carolynn O’Donnell, & Trecia Pallman-Hamilton
3rd Place: Hannah Cooke, Owen Rea, Aina Tashbolotova, & Matt Lyon

REMINDER: All spectators must purchase a Winter Carnival bracelet to gain admission to the show.  Performers only need a bracelet if they plan to attend more attractions throughout the weekend.


Categories:


  • Categories will be announced after auditions on 1/17/19, pending a final number of acts.
Cash prizes for top three finishers in each category!
1st place = $150; 2nd place = $75; 3rd place = $50

Admission Tickets:

$7.00 per person (ages 2 and under = FREE)
The Winter Carnival information booth will be open 5:00 - 7:00pm on Friday night for ticket sales.  All visitors who wish to view the show must purchase a Winter Carnival bracelet for $7.00, which will also grant entry to all events and activities on Saturday.

REMINDER:

FOOD AND BEVERAGES ARE NOT ALLOWED IN THE THEATRE.  The Colchester High School Theatre recently had a major renovation, so we must stress that food and beverages are not to be brought into the theatre.  Concessions will not be for sale this year.



Overflow Seating:


Spectators who are not able to find a seat in the theatre, or prefer a more flexible space for young children, are welcome to view the show from the CHS Cafeteria, where a live stream video will be set up.  You won't miss any of the action!

CHS Girls Basketball Games


The Colchester High School Girls Basketball teams will host Mt. Mansfield Union HS on Friday night (Feb. 1) in the CHS Gym.  JV Girls will play at 5:30 PM and Varsity Girls will play at 7:00 PM.  Entry to the games is free with a Winter Carnival bracelet.

Saturday, February 2, 2019: Winter Carnival

Click here for a downloadable PDF of the full schedule.

Saturday activities include inflatables, face painting, balloon animals, caricatures, fat bike demos, food concessions from local non-profits, and more!  Additional highlights include:

Chili Cook-Off to Benefit the Josh Pallotta Fund

2019 Chili Cook-Off Registration Form

Think you have the best chili in town?  Well then, test your chili against your neighbor at this community contest!  Entries support the Josh Pallotta Fund, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)3  organization dedicated to assisting Veterans and Service members struggling with Post Traumatic Stress and to one day end Veteran suicide.  There is no entry fee for chili participants, but donations to the Josh Pallotta Fund will be accepted.  Judging begins at 10:30 AM.  The top three will win a gift certificate, trophy, and bragging rights!  Remaining chili will be sold as concessions with proceeds benefiting the Josh Pallotta Fund.  Registration Deadline 1/25. 

2019 Judges include Gov. Phil Scott, Sen. Dick Mazza, Charlie Papillo, and Becky Holtz!  Prizes include gift certificates to The Guilty Plate Diner, Rozzi's Lakeshore Tavern, and 14th Star Brewery.

Studio 3 Dance Company Performance

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM   |   Studio 3 Dance is excited to perform their newest competition & select recreational dance pieces for all to enjoy! Dancers ages 5 and up will perform from a mix of genres including tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, hip hop, African, and more to delight the entire audience! This wonderful show is the perfect way to start your day at the Carnival.  Location: Theatre.

Ice Golf Charity Scramble (additional fee)

12:00 - 3:00 PM   |   Two 9-hole golf courses will be assembled on the frozen surface of our beautiful Lake Champlain. Teams of four will play in a scramble-format starting at Bayside Beach. $50/person. All proceeds benefit Vermont’s Camp Ta-Kum-Ta. Graphite shafts not recommended due to their brittleness in cold weather. White golf balls are not allowed. One hockey stick per team.  Check in at 11:00 AM; shotgun start at 12:00 PM. For details or to register, visit https://www.facebook.com/VermontIceGolf/.

Sunday, February 3, 2019: Open Skate @ Leddy Park (Burlington)


Join officers from the Colchester Police Department for an Open Skate at Leddy Park!  Your Winter Carnival bracelet covers your admission, so don't forget to bring it with you!  Skate rentals are available at the rink for $3.00 per pair.  

Hours: 11:20 AM - 12:40 PM
Location: Studio Ice, Leddy Park
(216 Leddy Park Road, Burlington).  

Sponsored by The Colchester Police Department.
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Special Thanks!

We'd like to recognize the following individuals and organizations for their continued support of the Colchester Winter Carnival.  They work hard to make sure our event is a success, provide volunteer support, and offer free attractions at the event.

A.C.E. After School ArtistsColchester School District
All the ConcessionairesLake Champlain Access Television
Amy Minor, CSD SuperintendentMalletts Bay Bicycle & Ski Shop
Colchester High School Athletic DepartmentMike & Ethan Guillemette
Colchester High School Custodial StaffRich Gardner & Camp Ta-Kum-Ta
Colchester High School National Honor SocietySteve Davis, Dir. of Nutrition & Food Service
Colchester Lions ClubStudio 3 Dance & Fitness
Colchester Police DepartmentVal Pallotta

Many thanks to the 2019 Winter Carnival Committee for their ideas, enthusiasm, and time commitment in planning this year's event.  We are looking to add more members to our committee, so if you enjoyed this year's event, please consider joining the committee!  Call the Parks & Rec office to be added to the group, or email Mike.  Committee Members are: Renee Barrett, Ronny Cummings, Jenn Maestas, Brittany Gaydos, Kathy LaRoche, Mary Beth Mooney.