Photo courtesy of Friends of the Blue Hills. You'll see so many friendly faces at Winterfest, including that of Mary Timilty and friend at the Friends membership table.

On Friday, January 24th, come out for a night of fun with both outdoor and indoor activities. Outdoors, enjoy a firepit and practice your skiing or snowboarding. Indoors, there's live music from Lynn Joliecoeur and the Pulse, kids' arts and crafts, and an annual chili cookoff. The six competitors vying for the title of Best Chili in the Blue Hills are Northern Spy and Orchard Cove from Canton, Oasis Vegan Veggie Parlor from Dorchester, Mattapan Food and Fitness Coalition from Mattapan, Abby Park from Milton, and The Fowler House from Quincy.

New this year are a guided twilight hike, tubing, kite flying, balance boarding, potato sack races, shoe demos, a raffle worth more than $1,000 in goods, and other outdoor activities courtesy of various community partners. 

Also being offered are Blue Hills Ski Area discounted ski and tubing tickets along with a slopeside concession stand to compliment the chili tasting. Community partners Arc’Teryx-Boston, Blue Hill Observatory & Science Center, Brookwood Community Farm, Mass Audubon, Mattapan Food & Fitness Coalition, and The Run House-Walpole will be hosting various types of winter fun and demo products on site.

Winterfest will begin at 4 PM and go until 8 PM Entry to the event is free and open to all ages–everyone is welcome.

 Winterfest is held at the base of Great Blue Hill and is organized by Friends of the Blue Hills in collaboration with the Blue Hills Ski Area and several other community partners.