OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Warm weather and the promise of fun in the snow brought people to the beach town that’s normally empty during most of the winter for the annual Winter Carnival put on by the community group, OOB365.

The Public Works Department had spent several days hauling snow to the downtown and building the carnival’s signature sledding hill. Mostly children, and a few adults tried the hill on Saturday. Some tried it on Friday at the sledding party held that night. 

In addition to sliding down the hill, there were pony rides, a petting zoo and the Palace Playland arcade was open for business.

Jim Demers of Scarborough and his two sons visited the carnival as they have done in years past. 

“OOB365 does a lot of great events year round,” said Demers. He said he likes attending the Winter Carnival as “it’s a good benefit to do and because it brings a lot of foot traffic that otherwise wouldn’t be here.”

“This is a pretty good turnout,” said Craig Currier of Old Orchard Beach who came with his girlfriend and some out of town friends. Currier and his friend Jesse Stairs of Nashua, New Hampshire were sitting outside drinking coffee in front of one of the local eateries.

“We just came down to see what’s going on … and dream about spring,” Currier said. 

“It’s good to see some people out and about, it’s good to see community support,” he said. 

The event also brings people and business to the area, which is a good thing, Currier said.

Some of those people helping the local economy included Stairs and his daughter to who were staying at an in-town hotel.

The family travels every summer to Old Orchard Beach, said Stairs, this was their first winter trip to the area.

“My daughter wanted to come see the carnival and sled,” he said.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 324, or dmendros@gmail.com.