The Mansfield Downtown Partnership is hosting its annual Winter Welcome this Saturday, Dec. 7, from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on the Betsy Paterson Square in Downtown Storrs, according to the Downtown Storrs website.
The partnership has many activities in store for the local community, including a Trim-A-Tree contest, winter themed games, a meet and greet with Santa and seasoned treats.
The Mansfield Downtown Partnership will provide trees for families to compete in the Trim-A-Tree contest, in which they will decorate Christmas trees to a theme, according to the website. The trees will be around six feet tall, and all participants are expected to bring their own decorations and lights. The trees will then be displayed on the square during the event, and visitors will be able to vote for their favorite tree. The top three winners will win prizes, according to the website.
After the event, participants can either bring their trees home or donate them to the Mansfield Human Services Department.
The website states that many winter-themed games and activities will be open to children and families, including a puzzle swap, in which participants can bring a puzzle they have completed and exchange it for a new one, and a martial arts display put on by Villari’s Martial Arts of Mansfield.
The Eastern Highlands Health District will be providing flu vaccines and blood pressure readings at the event. The UConn Woodsmen will also be displaying different aspects of their sport.
The full list of activities can be found under winter activities on the Downtown Storrs website.
For those interested in meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus, they will be at the Barnes and Noble located on the outskirts of the Square. They will be arriving on foot, escorted by the UConn marching band’s tuba section.
The Mansfield Resident State Troopers’ Office will also be holding a toy drive at the event for Mansfield families in need. Visitors are encouraged to bring new, unwrapped gifts and toys. Some items the trooper’s office suggests are gift cards for local business, winter coats and snowsuits, toys and stocking stuffers.
Local businesses around downtown will also be holding holiday specials, according to the website. The comic store, Action Packed, will be giving away free gifts to customers. Dog Lane Café will be giving out free hot chocolates with a purchase. Nautical Bowls and Playa Bowls will be featuring a 20 percent discount winter special for customers.
More information about the event can be found on the Downtown Storrs website.