Snowfest Saturday at NYPA, Minekill

1/28/2014

The New York Power Authority (NYPA) is partnering with Mine Kill State Park and Mother Nature to celebrate the season with free winter activities for the whole family at the annual Snowfest on Saturday, February 1.
The event will be held at the Blenheim-Gilboa Visitors Center complex from 10am-4pm and, weather-permitting, will include a snow sculpture contest, snow bowling, scavenger hunts and much more.
Visitors can also sample fare from the Grand Gorge United Methodist Church's Chili Contest or take a hayride pulled by a team of local oxen.
Visitors can enjoy an exhibition of artwork featuring scenes of Mine Kill State Park, take part in some arts and crafts activities, and get in on a silent auction to benefit Friends of Mine Kill State Park.
The day will also feature workshops on the international craze of Geocaching,
Animal Tracking with Matt Walter from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC) and techniques and tips on winter survival with NYS DEC Forest Ranger Bill Henry.
Representatives will also be on hand from the Catskill Area Invasive Species Project with information about invasive pests and kids will love checking out Dee's Reptiles where they can get up close and personal with a local lizard.
Also, learn about the identification and handling of the Hemlock Woody Adelgid (10am), and enjoy presentations on Iroquois Indian Storytelling (noon), Geology (1pm) and the history of Howe Caverns (11am) in the visitors center's theatre.
Festival-goers can also enjoy the wide array of hands-on exhibits at the admission-visitors center that presents information on themes such as the basics of electricity, uses of electricity, and the operation of NYPA's Blenheim-Gilboa Hydroelectric Power Plant-New York's largest pumped-storage electric power facility.