Heralded on by the frigid weather this week, the second yearly installment of a winter carnival in Windham is scheduled to begin next weekend, with a preliminary event at the high school taking place this Saturday night.

Boston-based hypnotist Steve Marino will perform Saturday, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m. in the performing arts center at the high school. Event coordinator Diane Leavitt said 25 audience members will be picked at random to participate in the show.

Comedic hypnotists, such as Marino, typically make a spectacle of of the volunteers to the amusement of the audience. Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for students.

Leavitt, who teaches a business simulation class at the high school, began the carnival last year.

“I thought, wouldn’t it be fun if we had a winter carnival to bring the town together in the cold part of the year and just have a good time,” said Leavitt.

Now in its second year, proceeds from the carnival go to Camp Sunshine, a camp in South Casco for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. Leavitt said some of the events at the carnival will go toward other causes, like the Outdoors club at the school.

Leavitt said a number of other organizations have gotten involved, such as the Windham Recreation program.

“At this point, we will have snow. I’m convinced of that now,” said Leavitt.

At the Manchester Elementary School next Friday, Jan. 26, the Windham Parent-Teacher Association is hosting a family skating night. The ice rink opens at 6 p.m.

At 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27 the real carnival begins. Primary School students will sing as part of an opening ceremony. It will close at 3 p.m. and be open Sunday from 12 to 4 p.m.

The carnival will have independent stations with variable costs for use. Leavitt said most activities will cost between $1 and $3, while some, like rock climbing, may cost $5. All prices are subject to change.

Outdoor activities will include broom ball, which Leavitt said is like hockey with brooms and a ball, snow sculpture building, and a children’s ice fishing derby.

Indoor activities will include rock climbing, foosball, ping pong, sumo wrestling, face painting, tic-tac-toss, Dance Dance Revolution, button and Mardi Gras mask-making and concessions. Other carnival games are expected to be introduced as well.

“I’ll play anything. I even climbed the rock wall [last year], and I’m afraid of heights,” said Leavitt.

The carnival will also include events like a cross-country skiing scavenger hunt on Sunday, a Texas Hold ‘Em poker tournament and a concert by Stream Reggae.

The closing events on Sunday include a pizza party and a Bingo game.

Diane Leavitt can be contacted for more information at dleavitt@windham.k12.me.us or by calling 892-1810 ext. 367.