Details Released For Friday's Drive-Through Winterfest In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Town officials have released more details on Friday's drive-through version of the annual Winterfest celebration.

The annual kickoff to the holiday season has traditionally taken place in Downtown Rockville and featured a fire engine parade, carolers and pictured with Santa, but for 2020 its has been moved to Henry Park and converted to a drive-through event amid coronavirus caution.

The event is slated for 5 to 7 p.m.

"It was important to continue this holiday tradition and to give our residents a special and safe way to mark the beginning of the holiday season," Vernon Mayor Daniel Champagne said.

The drive-through route up the hill at Henry Park will feature thousands of light displays set up by Vernon Parks and Recreation crews.

A special radio transmitter from Sunshine Entertainment will broadcast holiday music and information about Winterfest on 99.5 FM. Residents can tune in while waiting to enter the park and as they drive through.

Firefighters from Vernon and other towns will still be lighting and decorating their trucks. They’ll be on display for people as they pass by during the reverse-parade.

Winterfest will also feature:

• Fire jugglers
• A drone display at the Henry Park sledding hill
• Thousands of holiday lights and decorations all through Henry Park
• Decorated and lighted Public Works, Parks and Recreation trucks and police vehicles
• Laser Lights
• An ice carver.
• Light displays around Fox Hill Tower.
• Lighted and decorated displays by local organizations
• Santa and Mrs. Claus waving to passing vehicles

"Our goal is to create a safe, fun event for families to help them get into the holiday spirit," said Amy Watt, Vernon's assistant director of parks and recreation.

To ensure everyone's safety, participants must remain in their vehicles with closed windows and maintain a steady pace trough the park.

Santa pictures will not be offered.

Drivers can access the park off South Street and exit from Tower Road to Cedar Street. The park will close to the public at 4 p.m. on Friday for final preparation and Winterfest begins at 5 p.m.

Winterfest at Henry Park is modeled on the wildly popular Trunk or Treat program the Parks and Recreation Department ran for Halloween.