2020 WINTER CARNIVAL

The Merrimack Parks & Recreation Department has begun planning for the 29th Annual Winter Carnival; which will be held on Saturday, February 20th, 2021 from 12:00 - 3:00 p.m. at Wasserman Park.

The purpose of this Annual Event is to bring families outdoors during the winter and get them participating in a variety of fun and free activities.We are looking for Businesses & Community Organizations to join us for this great Community event. There is no fee to participate.  Due to the on-going Covid-19 pandemic; this year's  event will look a little different than in it has in past years. 

What we're thinking at this point is that it will be a similar concept to what we did with our Halloween Party in October. However, instead of the event walking down the hill towards the waterfront; the entire event will be on the fields adjacent to the Function Hall (near the Playground).   

Historically this event draws between 800 - 1,000 people, but in order to comply with the State of NH COVID-19 Guidelines and allow for proper social distancing; we will have to limit the number of people at this year's event to around 450 people (50 people every 20 minutes). Based on how the Halloween event went, we did increase the number of people we will allow into the event at a given time.
 

While this is a FREE event, we will be asking attendees to register in advance for a specific timed ticket (which must be reserved in advance. Only those individuals with a ticket will be allowed to enter. This will allow us to control the number of people at the event at any given time.  
 

COVID-19 Rules & Regulations: What this year's event will look like?
The event will be held entirely outdoors and we will have our community partners setup with games and activities in the field and each group will be spread out. We would asked that community groups run activities that the materials can either be cleaned between each family group visiting their station or to use disposable materials so that they are not being shared between different families. 

Attendees will visit each community partner in a specific order so that we do not have large crowds gathering in any one location.  

Some of the ways that your business / organization could get involved include:  

• Demonstrate an activity (Nature Identification, maple syrup making, etc.) 
• Organize a Winter Themed Arts & Crafts Project
• Organize  a Game or Activity
• Setup an information table about your organization
• Organize the S'more making activity and campfire
• Organization  a competition (ice fishing, snowman building, etc.)
• Other?      

Everyone would need to wear masks or face coverings anytime they were not able to maintain 6 feet of physical distancing from other families. Hand sanitizer, gloves and masks will be provided to each station. 

All groups will be recognized in the event publicity. We will also post your organization's logo and website link on our Event web page and in our email & social media marketing.

The following groups are confirmed for 2021: (as of 1/11/2021)

• Audrey Nixon - Winter Themed Arts & Crafts Project
• B-Well Dance Studios - Activity or Game
• Darbster Doggy - Adoptable Pet
• Ice Breakers NH - Ice Carving Demonstration
• Live Free Chiropractic - Activity - Activity
• Merrimack Department of Public Works - Activity
• Merrimack Friends & Families:  Selling Chili, Hot Dogs, Chips, Baked Goods, Hot Chocolate
• Merrimack Public Library - Arts & Crafts Project
• Merrimack VFW / Boy Scouts - A Lego derby car race, knot tying activity and possibly a mini BB Gun Range.