Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Come Alive Outside says WinterFest will run Feb. 14–22 after $80,000 state tourism grant
Summary
A representative from Come Alive Outside told aldermen that Rutland received an $80,000 tourism marketing grant and outlined plans for WinterFest Feb. 14–22, including snowmaking support from Killington and a revived professional snow-sculpting competition.
Arwin Turner of Come Alive Outside told the Board of Aldermen during public comment that the organization received an $80,000 grant from the Vermont Department of Tourism to market WinterFest, which is scheduled for Feb. 14–22.
"We have $80,000 that will be going into marketing for Winterfest," Arwin Turner said, and said organizers aim to bring 10,000 visitors to the town and "hopefully bring $750,000 to our community" across nine days. Turner described the estimate as research-based rather than conjecture.
Turner said WinterFest will include returning favorites—snowshoeing at the country club, human foosball, Bigfoot chases—and that Killington Mountain Resort will assist with snowmaking to reduce the risk that warm weather would cancel events on Center Street. A snow-sculpting competition is planned with invited professional sculptors from the region; the winner will advance to a regional event in Lake Geneva in 2026, organizers said.
Local businesses are encouraged to offer special deals and to link promotions to the newly relaunched WinterFest website and brand, Turner said. He also thanked the board for prior discretionary funding support for past events and indicated Come Alive Outside may request similar support again.
Why it matters: The state marketing grant and planned snowmaking assistance aim to increase out-of-town attendance and local economic activity during WinterFest. The event’s success could affect downtown businesses and short-term visitor spending.
Next steps: Organizers said they will ramp up marketing and outreach and asked the board to consider discretionary funding for specific elements; Turner said he would follow up with city staff about possible support.
