Oregon Winterfest: A feast for the senses

Oregon WinterFest celebrates the winter season here in Central Oregon. This is the 17th year of the event. Here are few photos from the recent event.

Ice Sculptures

You can see pictures of some of the ice sculptures above. The bird sculpture was still in the process of being carved. This is a competition but I’m not sure who won it this year.

Royalty arrives

The Fire King and Ice Queen made their entry on horseback. The queen called herself “Princess Ariel Anna Belle Elsa Cinderella Rapunzel.”

Things to see and do

There were booths to get food, beverages, and handmade crafts inside the large tents. There were also quite a few food carts outside.

The Central Oregon Metal Arts Guild had demonstrations and workshops scheduled throughout the event. You could make your own large wall hook for .

There were several bands playing at the event. A couple of my favorites were The Company Grand and the B Side Brass Band.  The Company Grand is a 10-member band that harkens back to the big band era while throwing in some modern sounds. B Side Brass Band is a New Orleans-inspired band with a great sound and a ton of enthusiasm. Both bands are local.

Activities at the event included a high-flying dirt bike show, a flying dog show, a Children’s Area, a Star Wars-themed run, and a wine walk. I previously posted pictures of the Fire Pit Competition, one of my favorite things at this event.

For a good cause

This year the proceeds from admission fees from the Oregon Winterfest went to Saving Grace, a local organization that provides support services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. If you are thinking about going next year, keep in mind that the money raised goes towards local causes.