FROSTBITE 5K – Last Chance to run, walk, or bike during the month of December. Post your results, then a picture of yourself in an ugly sweater with your race bib for the chance to win prizes. Benefit for the Oneonta YMCA. 607-432-0010 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaFamilyYMCA/
LIGHT TRAIL CONCLUDES – Last day to drive around Otsego County and view the holiday decorations. Visit www.facebook.com/GreatOtsegoLightTrail/ for directions.
Participants make their way down Market Street in Oneonta during the 2018 YMCA Frostbite 5k event. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
By CHRYSTAL SAVAGE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
ONEONTA – The Oneonta Family YMCA Frostbite has traditionally been held on New Year’s Eve Day in the city of Oneonta, however, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has required that the event be modified.
This year participants were able to enjoy the event anywhere they wanted at any time during the month of December. Participants could run, walk, stroll or bike a 2.5k, 5k or 10k at their discretion.
FROSTBITE 5K – Ongoing. Run, walk, or bike anytime during the month of December. Post your results, then a picture of yourself in an ugly sweater with your race bib for the chance to win prizes. Benefit for the Oneonta YMCA. 607-432-0010 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaFamilyYMCA/
ANGEL TREE PROGRAM – Give the Gift of Christmas this holiday season. Adopt a family in need. Visit www.allotsego.com/angel-tree-program/ to learn how.
Brian Horne, Mitchell Woodbeck, Gary Toombs, Keira Brown and 142 other brave – and chilly! – runners take off from the starting line of the starting line of the YMCA’s annual New Year’s Eve Frostbite 5K run earlier this afternoon on Market St. At right, Oneonta’s Michael Hamilton came in first place overall with a time of 18:06. The New Year’s Eve festivities continue this evening with the First Night parade at 5:30, followed by music, dancing, a poetry reading and talent show, as well as a chance to meet Oneonta’s own American Ninja Warrior, Anthony Eardley, at the free “20/20 – I Can See Clearly Now” celebration at Foothills. The fun continues until 10 p.m., when fireworks will be launched from Neahwa Park, then stick around for a blacklight after-party and Cosmic Karma fire dancers. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CELEBRATION – 5 p.m. Start a safe & sober New Years celebration with parade down Main St. followed by poetry readings, festival featuring live music, games, dancing, & special guest Anthony Eardley, Oneonta’s American Ninja Warrior. Then first ever talent show featuring $1000 prize at 7:30, then black-light after-party featuring entertainment by Cosmic Karma Fire Spinners. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit www.facebook.com/FNOneonta/
Tyler Gregory, Franklin, crosses the finish line to take first place at the Oneonta YMCA’s annual Frostbite 5K with a time of 17:54. 176 runners braved the cold to race on the last day of 2018. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
CELEBRATION – 6 p.m. – Midnight. Fireworks at 10. Ring out 2018 with pizza party before parade down Main St. Ring in 2019 with performances by Alex Torres and his Latin orchestra. Free admission. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. Visit firstnightoneonta.com
Temperatures in the low 40’s provided much more agreeable conditions for the 176 runners who took the the streets this afternoon in the Oneonta YMCA’s annual Frostbite 5k,. The race, originally scheduled on Dec. 31st, was postponed until today due to harsh negative temperatures. Here, Alexander Herold, Jody Taylor, Catie Minogue, David Morell, Heather Ellis, Gary Tooms and John Ellis run along Market St at the start of the race. Mike Roda, Oneonta, took 1st place with a time of 16:16.(Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
Abigail Losie, Adia Thompkins, Kirt Mykyntyn and the rest of the runners take off up Market Street New Year’s Eve afternoon during the annual Frostbite 5K. The race, the final of the O’Town Triple Crown, featured 348 runners braving the freezing temperatures. First place winner Jack Hillenbrand, Oneonta, came in with a time of 15:57, followed by Nicholas Arnecke, 16:19, and Michael Roda, 16:23. (Ian Austin/AllOTSEGO.com)
FROSTBITE 5K – 1 p.m. 3rd race of the O’town Triple Crown. Begins on Market St., Oneonta near Sidney Federal Credit Union. Info, www.oneontaymca.org
NEW YEAR’S EVE DANCE PARTY FUNDRAISER – 8 p.m.-2 a.m. Come out to support the Standing Rock Medic and Healer Council with DJ Raphael. Tickets at door $25. Cantina de Salsa, 11 Main St., Cherry Valley. Info, www.facebook.com/events/249553308797227/
NEW YEAR PARTY – 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Ring in the new year with champagne and a midnight breakfast buffet with Burning Moonlight. Timber Creek Saloon and Restaurant, 2957 ST. HWY. 23, West Oneonta. Info, www.facebook.com/TimberCreekLLC/
Runners in an Oneonta tradition – The Frostbite 5K – take off from in front of Foothills Performing Arts Center at 1 p.m. today. The race is sponsored by the Community Y. (Chris Eldred/AllOTSEGO.com)