The Newport Winter Carnival, now in its 106th year, is a good demonstration of the Newport community’s perseverance and dedication to its traditions, according to its organizers.
Since debuting in 1916, the annual festival has endured through a Great Depression, World War II and two historic pandemics, including one that remains ongoing.
“We never give up,” said Newport Recreation Director P.J. Lovely. “For 106 years in a row, no matter what, we have kept it running. That tradition is never going to stop.”
The community even held the carnival last winter, despite a regional surge of the novel coronavirus, though some signature events, like the annual parade and carnival pageant, were held virtually.
This year those events will be in-person again, Lovely said.
The parade, a perennial favorite of local families, will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 11 with 60 participating vehicles to travel the route, beginning at 62 John Stark Highway and ending at Newport Middle-High School.
The carnival officially kicks off Thursday, Feb. 10, which includes a torch-lighting ceremony on the little common at 5:45 p.m.
Activities on Friday at the Newport Recreation Center include a youth free-throw challenge at 4 p.m., and an adult dodgeball tournament at 6 p.m.
Friday also marks the return of the Queens Pageant to an in-person event, where six local high school Juniors and Seniors will showcase their talents in pursuit of the title of Winter Carnival Queen. The pageant will take place at the Newport Opera House at 7 p.m. Tickets for the in-person are $18 or people may livestream the event online for $29.
Saturday is traditionally the “busiest day” of the four day carnival, Lovely said. In addition to perennial family favorites like ice skating on the common, there are numerous contests, games and demonstrations scheduled through the day, from horse-drawn wagon rides and a mac ‘n cheese cook-off to ice sculpting demonstration hosted by the Library Arts Center.
There are also new additions this year, many tied to this year’s carnival theme, “Out of the Woods.”
New events on Saturday will include a “lumberjack” 500 kilometer run, in which participants are expected to dress in flannels and work boots, and an Icelandic stone lifting challenge.
The stone lifting challenge stems from a 16th century Icelandic tradition used by fishermen to test their strength. Four stones, each designated with a different weight, were traditionally used to qualify men to work on fishing boats.
The choice of “Out of the Woods” as this year’s theme seems a fitting testament to the community’s optimism, perseverance and creativity.
Originally the organizers had hoped to be proverbially ‘out of the woods’ in regard to the pandemic, Lovely thought. When that hope proved premature, the organizers transitioned the theme to a more literal meaning, which was easy to do given Newport’s richness in forests.
“There’s a reason why we are called ‘The Sunshine Town,’” said Beth Rexford of the Newport Recreation Department. “We spread cheer. Even in a pandemic.”
The Newport Winter Carnival begins on Thursday, Feb. 10, and continues through Sunday, Feb. 13. For a full-schedule of events, including registration or tickets for marked events, visit the Newport Area Chamber of Commerce website at newportnhchamber.org/winter-carnival.
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