Winterfest Returns To Downtown Wilmette For Second Year

WILMETTE, IL — The Wilmette Winterfest returns to the Village Green on Saturday afternoon to celebrate winter with warm drinks, dance and sliced ice.

Sponsored by the village and the local chamber of commerce, the free event will feature a live DJ starting at noon at the east entrance of Village Hall and ice sculptor demonstration starting at 1 p.m. at the corner of Wilmette and Central avenues.

"The ice sculptor, Nate Johnson, does a show of sculpting ice and interacting with the audience," said Lisa Roberts, deputy director of community development, in an application for the event. "The event appeals to children as well as adults."

Free hot cocoa will be available from 1:30 p.m., with a performances from Skunkworks Dance at 2 p.m., North Shore Music at 2:30 p.m. and Studio North Academy of the Performing Arts at 3 p.m.

Local businesses are purchasing custom ice sculptures to be cut ahead of the event, and some of those will be displayed at the village green, according to Roberts.

Staff of the village and the Wilmette/Kenilworth Chamber of Commerce have also encouraged local business to offer shopping specials, hot drinks or other special Winterfest programming.

The village held its first Winterfest last year as part of the celebrations of the village's sesquicentennial.

This year's event has been scaled down to take place solely at the village center, and about 200 people are expected to attend, according to the application.

"We received a lot of positive feedback from the event in 2022 and we look forward to providing another popular event in 2023," Roberts said.

The weather forecast for Saturday afternoon is partly cloudy with a high of 39 degrees.

According to a memo to the village board from Community Development Director John Adler, the village is paying $3,800 for the combined cost of the DJ and ice sculptor.