ANDOVER — Winter Fest makes its return for a morning filled with outdoor nature activities for the whole family to enjoy.
The free event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 2 at Rec Park Beach at Pomps Pond, 147 Abbot St.
Winter Fest began as a Conservation Department endeavor. It has evolved into a multi-department effort with the Recreation Department teaming up for the event. Youth Services is also involved as well as the Department of Public Works.
The event was first developed as a way to engage the public with nature during the winter.
The family-friendly event will include activities such as guided walks on the trails around Pomps Pond, an ice derby, a hockey target competition, nature exhibits and turtle tracking with Zoo New England.
Conservation agent Benjamin Meade said the Conservation Commission works closely with their animal and habitat conservation team. Zoo New England will bring its turtle tracking radio telemetry equipment. Children will use the equipment to find a stuffed turtle in the woods.
Displays will be set up of different things like turtle shells and deer antlers that Meade said people may not realize they can find when they are taking a walk in the woods.
The Police Department will be on hand for attendees to learn about what the department does and Andover Fire Rescue will demonstrate an ice rescue.
Ice skating is possible and an ice fishing derby is also planned, depending on the weather. It has been a few years since the last ice fishing derby took place during Winterfest.
Fire Lt. Robert Dalton sets up the derby each year for those high-school aged and younger.
“As soon as the fish pulls on the line, the flag goes up and everybody runs over to the hole where the fish is,” Conservation Director Robert Douglas said. “It’s just an amazing thing to see.”
Douglas said kids pulled out some large fish last time the Winter Fest had ice and he’s looking forward to seeing what fish are caught.
The Recreation Department will provide free hot dogs and hot chocolate during the event. This year, Oak & Iron Brewing Company will park its beer truck at the pond. The head of Phillips Academy curling program will also bring curling rocks to allow people to slide them around on the ice.
Conservation Commission volunteer Craig Liversidge will bring his antique saw to show how ice used to be cut in the 1700s and 1800s. The saw is about 6-feet long. Pomps Pond is connected to ice block harvesting as a location more than 100 years ago where ice would be brought up a hill to a rail bed, shipped to Boston, and then sent overseas.
“Everybody gets a chance to cut through the ice with that ancient saw,” Douglas said.
Ice activities are dependent on the weather, but Meade said they have modified events in the past to make sure families have different activities to enjoy outside regardless.
“We are hopeful this year that we’ll have safe ice to be able to get out on the pond and will make sure it’s safe for people to be out there,” Meade said. “We’ll assess conditions ahead of time.”