NEWBURYPORT — The annual Winter Carnival at the Bartlet Mall on High Street is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 2, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is being organized by the Newburyport Parks Commission and Newburyport Youth Services.
Leaders of both organizations say they are hopeful that this year’s free event will feature two key ingredients: ice and snow.
Last year’s carnival was cancelled due to a lack of both.
With a good coating of ice already on the Frog Pond, organizers say that the conditions promise an afternoon of fun, with a schedule of events similar to years past, including the Fifth Annual Human Dog Sled Race.
The Human Dog Sled Race features teams of five or less, with one driver and human “sled dogs” who race across the frozen Frog Pond.
Teams will provide their own sled and rope for attaching the sled to the team. Costumes and sled décor are recommended, but not required. The race will be judged both on speed and also on sled design.
There will be open skating throughout the day in addition to sledding and snowboarding. Horse-drawn hayrides will be provided by Scott Colby of Colby Farm.
Representatives of REI, an outdoor gear retailer, will offer snowshoe demonstrations and free rentals. Members of Life is Good, also a retailer, will be attending to hand out stickers and other items.
The Newburyport Mothers Club will host activities for children and Newburyport Youth Services will host children’s activities indoors at the former Kelley School, where event-goers can warm up and purchase hot pretzels to benefit a NYS scholarship.
The Bartlet Mall commissioners will staff an information tent near Pond Street directing event-goers to all outdoor events and to activities in the Kelley School building.
Free cookies and cocoa and the sounds of WNBP-radio will add to the extras of the day, organizers say.
The carnival is made possible by support from the Institution for Savings and the Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank.
Those interested in more information or in volunteering can call Lisë Reid at the Parks Department at 978-465-4462 or email parks@cityofnewburyport.com.
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