BIDDEFORD — Are the winter blues getting you down? Fear not, some fun in the snow is planned from the first weekend in February during Biddeford’s annual WinterFest.

The family-friendly, community event began in 2012. It’s been held every year since, even during two years when other municipalities canceled their winter celebrations due to extreme cold.

Biddeford’s WinterFest, which takes place primarily in the city’s downtown was the brainchild of Mayor Alan Casavant, according to Heart of Biddeford Executive Director Delilah Poupore. Staff and volunteers with the downtown revitalization organization help organize the event.

Casavant said he came up with the idea for WinterFest after attending dog sled races in Fort Kent, a few years before.

“They created a sledding track in the downtown and it led into the woods,” Casavant said in an email. “I thought that it was so cool!  thousands of people showed up, and I thought that we could do the same here. So I gathered a group of people who were involved in Franco activities, including John Maxson, who became the catalyst and the manager (and has since died), and we brainstormed and created the event. I believe that festivals bring people in a community together, so I thought that there was a need to do something like that in the winter!”

“The mayor initiated WinterFest because he saw that the community gets disconnected in the winter,” Poupore said in an email. “We all get a bit of cabin fever. So, first and foremost, this builds community. … Since there’s something for everyone at WinterFest, it gives people a chance to see that it’s worth it to get out and explore!”

According to Poupore, about 2,000  people attend the three-day event, which will be held Friday through Sunday, Feb. 1-3.

“Unless we have another 9 (degree) below weekend, we should be on track to see that again this year,” she said.

In addition to providing winter entertainment for people of all ages, it’s also good for local businesses.

“We know many businesses see a slow-down during the colder months, because many don’t want to venture outside,” Poupore said. She said HOB, with the assistance of University of New England business students, conducted a survey of downtown stores and restaurants that compared sales the weekend prior and after WinterFest to the festival weekend. According to the survey “(there was) about a 40 percent increase over that weekend.

“Now that more businesses are directly participating in WinterFest, we expect more businesses to receive an uptick in business that weekend,” Poupore said.

One of the highlights of the weekend is the sledding hill near City Hall. For the second year in a row, there will be an adult-only sledding party on Friday night, Feb. 1; tickets for that are already sold out.

Also on Friday, Biddeford native Joe Boucher will perform with his five piece band along with a classical string quartet at the City Theater stage. They will present “IMAGINE — The Beatles Solo Years” to benefit the Biddeford High School Music Department. Tickets are $25 and are available on the City Theater website.

On Saturday afternoon, kids will take over the sledding hill. A giant curve will be incorporated into the sledding hill for the first time this year.

WinterFest committee member Larry Patoine, who has coordinated the sledding hill each year as part of New Life Church’s contribution to the event, said he expects the new twist in the hill to bump up the quality of the run.

“We just love to see the kids’ smiles,” Patoine said. “We think their eyes will be even wider when they see this year’s hill.”

In addition to sledding on Saturday, there will be snow golf, snowshoeing and fat bike rides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at City Square, outside of City Hall.

“Everything is free,” Poupore said, “including pony rides, horse and wagon rides, and even cocoa, hot dogs and pizza.”

At noon, Biddeford arts organization Engine, will premier its “Winter Wonderland Art Exhibit” in City Hall.

Late afternoon on Saturday, the Biddeford+Saco Chamber of Commerce+Industry will host a “Hoppy Hour” in Shevenell Park at 147 Main St. The free event will include yard games, a fire pit, and beer for purchase from Dirigo Brewing Company.

“We thought this would be a fun addition to the weekend,” Chamber Director Jim Labelle said. “All sales will go to support Dirigo owner Tom Bull’s recovery from heart transplant surgery.”

Saturday evening culminates with comedian Juston McKinney at City Theater. McKinney has performed multiple times on “The Tonight Show,” and performed on his own Comedy Central specials. Tickets are $20 and available on the City Theater website.

On Sunday Feb. 3, the Community Bike Center will host the Super Roll Sunday Fat Bike Ride at 10 a.m. Interested riders should meet at the CBC parking lot at 45 Granite St.

For more information: https://biddefordwinterfest.org/ and on Facebook.com/BiddWinterFest. For more information on City Theater events, visit the website citytheater.org.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be contacted a 780-9014 or dmendros@journaltribune.com