The annual event will benefit the parks and recreation departments of Lambertville and New Hope, among other groups.
By: Linda Seida
The seventh annual Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival will kick off tomorrow (Feb. 7) with a sold-out concert by progressive-rock vocalist Annie Haslam at New Hope-Solebury High School on West Bridge Street.
The concert, along with a preceding gala that also is sold out and other events running through Sunday, Feb. 9, will benefit a number of local organizations. The primary recipients of funds raised by this year’s festival are the parks and recreation departments of both river towns. Other organizations that will benefit from the proceeds include fire, police and rescue departments as well as schools.
Streets on both sides of the Delaware River will swell with about 35,000 visitors over the course of the festival’s three days, according to Louise Decker, chairperson of the festival.
Some festival-goers are coming to Lambertville and New Hope from as far away as Texas and Virginia, according to Carl Glassman, proprietor of the Wedgwood Inn Bed & Breakfast in New Hope and a member of the festival committee.
"What started as a kind of small family fun thing has really developed into a sophisticated event of national interest," Mr. Glassman said. "It has gotten the attention now of national travel and food editors, but the focus is on family fun."
The festival was listed in the events calendars of such magazines as Country Living, he added.
Bad weather won’t stop the scheduled events.
"If it rains, I suppose it will be somewhat diminished but still go on," Ms. Decker said. "We’ll do whatever we can, rain or shine. We’ve been blessed with good weather every year."
She recalled a light dusting of snow only one year out of the previous six years the festival has been held. The snowflakes melted on the street and added just the right winter-wonderland effect to the festivities. Another year, temperatures for the festival climbed into the 40s, helping to attract a good number of visitors.
Festival-goers who plan on driving into town will find plenty of parking in New Hope, although the lots are usually full by about 1 p.m., according to Ms. Decker. Four hundred parking spaces are available behind Union Square, and many spaces also are available behind the high school, she said.
Saturday’s events will start at 11:30 a.m. with a parade Ms. Decker termed "outstanding." Three high-ranking Mummers bands will be featured, along with local marching bands, Scout troops, civic groups and antique cars. Also on hand will be mascots from the Trenton Thunder minor league baseball team Boomer and the Trenton Titans hockey team Clash and Rivet.
The weekend will offer something for every age and just about every interest, whether it’s food, music or history.
Children between the ages of 5 and 12 can participate in a free scavenger hunt in the high school’s cafeteria Sunday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. On Saturday morning, the Brownstone Puppet Theater will put on a show, its first at the festival, at St. John’s School from 10 to 11 a.m.
Chili connoisseurs will enjoy the popular chili cook-off Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at River Horse Brewery on Lambert Lane in Lambertville. For $15, tasters get to sample and vote on chili created by eight different restaurants and will receive a commemorative pint glass. Participating establishments include 49 North Main, Lambertville Station and No. 9 Restaurant, all of Lambertville. Also participating are the Centre Bridge (Pa.) Inn and The Landing of New Hope, Hart’s Tavern of Lahaska, Mesquito Grille of Doylestown and Verducci’s Specialty Market of Ringoes.
Ice-carving demonstrations will be held Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Gratz Gallery on West Bridge Street in New Hope and at the River Horse Brewery, where master ice carver Mark Mastrangelo will be featured.
In New Hope, ice carvings can be seen at various locations, including Havana’s Restaurant & Café on South Main Street; C’est la Vie French Bakery & Café on Main Street; The Landing Restaurant on North Main Street; Hello Gorgeous Beauty Salon, also on North Main Street; Suzy Hot Sauce/Beneath the Veil on Bridge Street; and Possum’s on West Ferry Street.
In West Amwell , ice carvings will be on view at Chimney Hill Farm on Goat Hill Road and in Lambertville at C.A. Niece Lumber Co. at Union and Elm streets. Bridge Street locations include Dresswell’s, The Lambertville House, The Inn at Lambertville Station and Lambertville Station Restaurant.
About 66 entries in the Snowfolk Art Competition will be on view in both towns in addition to 40 more created by children from West Amwell and New Hope elementary schools. These life-size wooden cutouts in the shape of a snowman were created in three categories: historical or well-known figures, traditional and free form.
Sunday, a Snowfolk Art Exhibition will be on display from 1 to 4 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lambertville on Bridge Street. Some of the snowfolk creations have been put on display in the windows of establishments throughout both towns.
Locations, directions and other information can be found on either side of the bridge. In New Hope, brochures and information will be located on Starbucks’ porch. In Lambertville, they will be located in a tent by Lambertville Station.
Visitors with a hankering for history can take walking tours Saturday from 2 to 4:30 p.m. The tours will begin at the Parry Mansion on Bridge Street in New Hope and conclude across the Delaware at the River Horse Brewery.
A self-guided walking tour of bed-and-breakfast establishments begins Sunday at 3 p.m. Sites included are The Lambertville House, The Logan Inn, The Inn at Lambertville Station, Chimney Hill Farm Estate & the Ol’ Barn Inn, York Street House Bed & Breakfast, Fox & Hound Bed & Breakfast, and The Inn at Stoney Hill.
Those who prefer to remain outdoors can take the three-mile Winter Walk History and Nature Tour on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m. Those with a bit more energy and stamina can try a one-mile Fun Walk-Run and lunch, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at New Hope/Solebury High School.
Musical events will be numerous throughout the weekend, including an invitational string band competition among three Mummers bands at Lambertville Station on Saturday at 12:45 p.m.; the Youth Orchestra of Bucks County on Saturday at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Lambertville; the big band sound and blues at Havana’s Restaurant on Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m.; rock and blues at John & Peter’s Place on Saturday and Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.; bluegrass at the Inn of the Hawke from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday; and oldies at Odette’s Restaurant from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

