Courtesy of Newport Chamber of Commerce
My little hometown is having its biggest weekend of the year.
The festivities of the 106th Winter Carnival started Thursday with the torch lighting by this year’s Queen contestants and will run through Sunday with all manner of happy activities.
The annual affair is a big deal for the little town. Months of planning go into the events with many area businesses kicking in lots of time and volunteers as the Newport Chamber of Commerce and the Newport Rec Center host the majority of activities. Our little recreation center staff is amazing, pulling off a wonderful array of activities that area businesses, schools, and volunteer organizations all participate in a variety of ways to make each and every carnival special.
And this year’s event is no exception.
The Winter Carnival committee, the Queen Pageant directors and committee, the parents of all the contestants, the planners, movers and shakers (too many to name individually) deserve a huge round of applause.
I haven’t been involved in the planning for many years, and it’s not that often that I get to attend many of the activities as we are usually scrambling in the maple orchard trying to get ready for the first sap runs. We hope to attend some of the festivities this year, with the theme “Out of the Woods” very appropriate for us maple farmers. We plan to meet the “kids” and grandkids to watch the parade, eat some delicious food on the Common, watch some woodsmen’s competitions and maybe do a little skating or sliding.
Our little town of Newport claims this carnival is the oldest continuously occurring winter carnival in the country. We have some long and deep roots here in the community, and it is pretty special to have been celebrating the winter season and our beautiful little corner of the world for more than 100 years. I feel a special connection to this celebration and all things historic in the town with my family having chopped this farm out of the forestland more than 200 years ago. My roots and connections run pretty deep, too.
A reader sent me a message last week saying he read my disappointment and discouragement in my columns quite often, and wanted to send me a little encouragement about the friendships and connections we have created through the farm. Those connections and long roots are what make my work special. The disappointments, challenges, and trepidation about uncertain futures and stressful times creeps into my thoughts a lot more than I wish, but I know I am not alone. I try to focus on the joys and beauty of any particular day and chase the dark thoughts away, but they are always in the shadows. Because those uncertainties and worries affect us all, I think times like the Newport Winter Carnival are the perfect opportunity to enjoy some local beauty and fun and embrace all that is good in our community.
If you are able, hop in the car and head to the center of the little town of Newport for the day Saturday or Sunday. Enjoy the festivities. Visit with your neighbors. Shop at the amazing local businesses tucked in every corner of the town. Chase those winter blues away with a celebration of winter and the promise of spring.
Becky Nelson is co-owner of Beaver Pond Farm in Newport. You may reach her at [email protected].
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