KENNEBUNK — Her friends from Germany tell her it’s a common thing.

You’re taking a child out on the ice for the first time. They’re young, they’re uncoordinated, they’re intimidated by skates. So you push them gently in a chair with a metal base to get them accustomed to the swift, gliding motion, the fluidity of a frictionless trajectory.

That made sense to Mary Zachary-Lang. So Friday evening, during the kickoff to Kennebunk’s annual Winterfest celebration, she introduced her 3-year-old granddaughter, Eloise Talmadge, to her friends’ European tradition, nudging her along amidst dozens of novice and veteran skaters who turned out for the event.

“As many things as you can learn when you’re young ”“ skating, skiing, Rollerblading ”“ it makes it much easier to do when you’re an adult,” said Zachary-Lang, who’s been skating since she was 7. “It’s like dancing. It’s like flying. My body just loves how it feels.”

If turnout was any indication, there are many who can relate.

The “skating party,” as it was called, was more than just a gathering of ice addicts, hoping some time outdoors would dissolve their cabin fever. DJ music issued from speakers placed on the rink’s perimeter, blasting tunes from golden oldies to MC Hammer, and a few concessions kept bellies full and hands warm. Athletes from the Kennebunk High School hockey team even showed up to help teach small children how to skate.

“It takes a lot of volunteers,” said Jean Macaulay, the event’s organizer and chairperson of the Kennebunk Festival Committee.

Macaulay explained that this year’s Winterfest was a slightly scaled-back version of its usual self, due partly to the expectation that a new open-air pavilion would be under construction over the rink.

The pavilion will still, in all likelihood, become a reality, effectively transforming the space into an all-season venue for a variety of events, from comedy and magic to dances and musical performances. With the rink maintenance paid for through a $1.5 million endowment from Geraldine Waterhouse and her family, and the pavilion structure itself funded largely through donations from local businesses and contractors, municipal officials anticipate the structure could be erected by the end of June, ready for the start of Old Home Week.

But the project has been delayed slightly due to fundraising concerns. Meanwhile, Winterfest soldiered on without its customary craft show, although many elements ”“ including a soup tasting contest on Saturday, and a talent show at town hall on Saturday evening ”“ remained.

“In one sense, it makes it easier to plan,” said Macaulay, “because the craft show in particular takes weeks and weeks of communication.”

Which isn’t to say it was a cakewalk.

“It takes a lot,” said Brenda Robinson, a festival committee member who helped with organizing. “But we do it. It’s really to bring the spirit of Kennebunk together. It’s wonderful seeing people here with their kids. The more we can keep kids involved, the less drugs and less problems we have. It’s all about giving them smiles.”

And there were plenty of those to go around. Friends Evie Roob, Kate Sprague and Maggie Nguyen were among the first to arrive at the rink, and aside from a few brief slips, managed to work the rust out and regain their winter rhythms.

“It just gives you this feeling ”“ I can’t describe it,” said Roob. “It’s different than anything else.”

On the sidelines, Mishanagqus Vetrano watched her granddaughter, Alexis Vetrano, 7, take her first tentative steps onto the ice. The younger Vetrano is a baton twirler at her school and was featured in Saturday night’s talent show.

“We’ve been wanting to take her down (to the rink),” said Mishanagqus Vetrano. “She was a little intimidated at the thought of doing it on her own, so we’re here to teach her the ropes.”

Vetrano’s own grandmother skated, she said, until she was 75 years old ”“ frail “chicken bones” and all. Vetrano wasn’t feeling quite so adventurous on Friday, but delighted in seeing her granddaughter take her first strides, slowly getting a rhythm going. She was one of many, and for Vetrano, it was a delight to see.

“Winterfest really brings the town together,” she said.

— Staff Writer Jeff Lagasse can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 319 or jlagasse@journaltribune.com.