WINTER CARNIVAL – All Day. Info at www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com
CONCERT – 3 p.m. Enjoy mix of American music for ‘Good Ol’ Summertime in Winter’ concert. Beat the winter blues with pieces like Carousel, America The Beautiful, more performed by Oneonta Community Concert Band. FoxCare Center, 1 FoxCare Dr., Oneonta. 607-432-7085.
STATE OF THE STATE – 11:45 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Hear from your elected officials in local, county, state, federal government on the State of Otsego County. Learn about legislation & initiatives that may impact your business. Featuring Antonio Delgado, James Seward, John Salka, others. Cost, $40/non-member. Otsego Grill, Morris Hall, SUNY Oneonta. 607-432-4500 or visit otsegocc.com
FUNDRAISER – 5:30 – 8 p.m. Support Tracy Abrams to provide wigs to local community members who have lost their hair to chemotherapy. Enjoy Quarter Auction, food, drink, preview items. Partnered with 501c organization Wigs & Wishes. Oneonta Vets Club, 279 Chestnut St., Oneonta. 607-287-4294 or visit www.facebook.com/OneontaVetsClub
FUNDRAISER – 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Grilled Cheese for a Good Cause features gourmet sandwiches prepared by favorite local chefs with local ingredients, live music. Support Otsego 2000’s historic preservation program in Otsego county. Tickets, $30/adult. Farmers Market, Cooperstown. 607-547-8881 or visit www.otsego2000.org/2019/01/08/grilled-cheese-good-cause-february-11th/
SNOWSHOE HIKE – 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Strap on showshoes, look for signs of animal life in snow-covered woods. Limited number of snowshoes available. Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown. 607-547-4488 or visit occainfo.org/calendar/making-tracks-and-finding-tracks/
COMEDY – 8 p.m. Not Too Far From Home comedy tour returns featuring emcee Aaron David Ward, headliner Chris Coccia, & Jeremy Goff. Tickets, $20/person at-door. Foothills Performing Arts Center, Oneonta. 607-431-2080 or visit foothillspac.org
By LIBBY CUDMORE
By LIBBY CUDMORE
COOPERSTOWN – If you looked out and saw cars out on Otsego Lake today, you would probably call a tow truck.
But in 1974, when Bill Waller was Cooperstown Winter Carnival chairman, it was all part of the fun.
“We had all sorts of events on the lake – Just as long as the ice was 18-inches thick,” he said.
The 52nd Winter Carnival kicks off Friday, Feb. 8
Back then, chief among the favorite activities was the annual gymkhana, where cars would race through cones across Otsego Lake’s ice.
“When we came up for the first Winter Carnival in 1969, I saw all these cars out on the ice,” said Waller. “I took my car out, but I had the wrong tires on, so I didn’t do very well.
“But Hank Phillips” – at the time, he ran Withey’s Pharmacy on Main Street – “he had this funny little Volkswagen, and he beat the pants off everyone.”
HEALTH FAIR – 9 a.m. – Noon. Participate in the indoor Heart Walk, learn hands-only CPR, get free blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose check, visit the pet therapy booth, more. FoxCare Center, 1 Foxcare Dr., Oneonta. Call 607-432-2000 or visit www.bassett.org/heartwalk/
QUILT SHOW – 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The 28th Annual Fenimore Quilt Club Show opens with spectacular pieces both old and new on display thru Feb. 25. Quilt Club members will be available each day to demonstrate their craft or answer questions. Cooperstown Art Association. Call 607-547-9777 or visit www.cooperstownart.com
CHILI LUNCHEON – 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Enjoy Homemade chili or soup to warm the soul for Winter Carnival. All you can eat with bread, drink, tasty dessert. Donations support ongoing ministries. First Baptist Church, 21 Elm St., Cooperstown. Visit www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com/event-schedule
ART SHOW – 4 – 6 p.m. Opening “Art in Winter: Rural Resonance” features 3 well know local artists: Tracy Helgeson, Alice Hudson, & Lavern Kelly. The Art Garage, 689 Beaver Meadow Rd., Cooperstown. Call 607-547-5327 or visit www.facebook.com/TheArtGarageCooperstown/
4-9 p.m. – Fire & Ice Bar, The Otesaga
5 p.m. – Carnival Closer, Cooperstown Farmers’ Market
5:30-9 p.m. – Hawkeye Special, The Otesaga
7-9 p.m. – Paint ‘n’ Sip, Pail Shop Winery, Fly Creek
7:30 p.m. – Annie & The Hedonists, Cooperstown Concert Series, The Otesaga
8 p.m. – 2017 Lip Sync Battle & Flux Capacitor, Cooperstown Farmers’ Market
SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!
FUN IN THE SNOW! Final day of the 50th anniversary Cooperstown Winter Carnival features snowman building, soup’n’ chili, soccer slushing in Pioneer Park, the “Fatty Bumppo” bike race ghost tours, wine tasting, a chicken wing competition, the Fire & Ice Bar at The Otesaga, Annie & The Hedonists concert, and the carnival closer. For full schedule of events, see www.cooperstownwintercarnival.com/event-schedule
SOUP ‘N’ CHILI – The Cooperstown Winter Carnival starts up for a second weekend 11 a.m.-2 p.m., with Chili, Beef Barley Soup, Broccoli, Bread, Dessert, and drinks. Adults $8, Children $4 at First Baptist Church, 21 Elm St., Cooperstown. Info, 547-9371
CONTRADANCE – 7:15-10:30 p.m. Otsego Dance Society hosts. Music by Eleemosynary, Robby Poulette calls. No partner or experience needed. All dances taught. Newcomers welcome at 7:15 for an introduction to some basic steps. Suggested donation $8 adults; $4 students and teenagers; kids 12 & under free. First Presbyterian Church, 25 Church St., Cooperstown. Info, (607) 965-8232, 547-8164, www.otsegodancesociety.blogspot.com