ERIE COUNTY, NY—Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz, along with Commissioner of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry Troy P. Schinzel, Erie County Legislature Chairman John Mills, and members of the Orchard Park Department of Recreation and Chestnut Ridge Conservancy has announced the return of WinterFest to Chestnut Ridge this Sunday, January 25 from 11 AM - 4 PM. The free, annual event offers sledding, snowboarding, tobogganing, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and other seasonal activities along with marshmallow roasting, arts and crafts, hay rides, and much more. The Chestnut Ridge Park casino will be open, with warming fireplaces and food available for sale.

 “WinterFest provides an opportunity to enjoy the best activities the winter season has to offer, with free family fun and lots of memories waiting to be made on Sunday. It’s a great celebration at the jewel of Erie County’s parks system, and I encourage residents to get outside, enjoy the weather, and be a part of the fun at Winterfest,” said Poloncarz. “I want to thank Commissioner Schinzel and our partners for their work again this year to make this free event happen. Their cooperation is greatly and widely appreciated, especially by the thousands of happy people who’ve attended WinterFest over the years.”

“WinterFest is a good example of one of the many successful partnerships the Erie County Parks Department has fostered and that help to make free programs such as this possible,” said Commissioner Schinzel. “It is also a great opportunity to showcase this historic Park and the over $1.8 million in improvements that have taken place here since 2012.”

Other activities at WinterFest include wood branding, snow painting, a snow sculpture contest (judging at 2 PM), and magic shows at 11:30 AM and 1 PM.

“We have the snow and we have the cold, Erie County is ready for WinterFest this Sunday. This is one of the county’s premier events with a variety of activities for families to enjoy. WinterFest is a great opportunity to enjoy Chestnut Ridge Park and I encourage everyone to attend, dress warm and be safe,” said Erie County Legislature Chairman John Mills.

 Director of Recreation & Youth Activities for the Town of Orchard Park Ed Leak added, "The Orchard Park Recreation Department is once again proud to cosponsor the 2015 WinterFest with Erie County. This relationship and collaborative effort has allowed the residents of Erie County to enjoy one of the finest jewels in the County, Chestnut Ridge Park. The conditions will be perfect for an outstanding family outdoor event."

WinterFest is sponsored by the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry along with the Town of Orchard Park Department of Recreation, Erie County legislator John Mills, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Verizon, Towne Auto, Wegmans, Southtowns Radiology, WBEN 930 AM, and West Herr Automotive.

For more information: On the Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation & Forestry visit http://www2.erie.gov/parks/ # # #