Somerset Winterfest Brings Holidays to Life with Epic Celebration

After a successful first year in 2021, the Somerset Winterfest will return to the Slades Ferry District on Saturday, Dec. 10, noon to 6 p.m., for a day of free family fun. This year is shaping up to be much bigger than last year, with vendors, food trucks, and even more holiday cheer.

The Beginning of Winterfest

“I remember when I was growing up in Somerset, Slades Ferry Park was always decorated and the parents would bring their kids out to enjoy it, and I wanted to bring something like that back to town,” said Kathy Souza, who chairs Winterfest with Nancy Thomas.

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Last year, Souza was a Select Board member for Somerset, and with the help of her friends Lisa Marques and Lynn Berube, Souza’s dream of bringing a holiday-themed event to Somerset came true.

“Donations poured in, volunteers poured in. ... It was so much bigger and better than what I had in mind, it was such a fun time,” she said.

What to Expect This Year

The main attraction of the inaugural year was the train for children that traveled through the Candy Cane Forest, but this year, Somerset Winterfest will be a lot more than just a train ride.

The SouthCoast Open Air Market will be on-site, bringing along 15 food trucks, tents and 30 local vendors.

“We are very excited to have that as an addition this year,” Souza said.

In addition to the train rides, there will be a skating rink, an antique truck decked out in holiday décor for perfect family photo opportunities, local choirs and bands playing throughout the day, free hot chocolate and snacks, and a massive Christmas tree lighting of six different trees to officially kick off the holidays.

The Grinch will stop in to tell stories and the Somerset Police Department will be on-site to collect new, unwrapped toys for families in need.

Want to Help? Here’s How

Winterfest is in need of volunteers, decorators, and helpers. Visit Somerset Winterfest online to find information on how to help.

Free, Family Fun for the Holidays

The goal of Winterfest was to bring a Hallmark holiday movie to life, and Winterfest 2022 may just pull it off. Souza said she is thrilled to continue this festival on a bigger scale than ever before.

“To be able to offer holiday fun for free for families, that’s the reason I’m doing this,” she said. “It’s a free, fun holiday event for families."

Follow Somerset Winterfest on Facebook to see which food trucks and vendors will be joining in on the fun.

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