FESTIVALS & SPECIAL EVENTS and WINTER WONDERS

•The annual Winter Fun Fest at Westgate Park in Gates NY will be held on January 30. The event offers a winter wonderland filled with activities for the entire family – cross country skiing, snowman building, snowmobile rides, a toasty bonfire and more. Kids under age 13 should be accompanied by an adult. Call (585) 247-6100.

•On January 30, the Epilepsy Foundation will host its 24th annual Chocolate Ball, themed this year as “Noche Caliente” (“Hot Night” in Spanish), in the Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main Street. The event features a champagne cocktail reception, award-winning cakes, a silent auction, dinner, a live auction and wonderful chocolate creations. Call (585) 442-4430.

•At the Preview Party for “Fashioning Kimono Art Deco and Modernism in Japan” on January 30, you can dance to music by Rochester Brass & Electric; relax to jazz with Kind of Blue, hear the sounds of the koto (a Japanese stringed instrument played by Debbie McCullough), enjoy ikebana and origami demonstrations, and sample Japanese teas from Wegmans Tea Bar. Call (585) 276-8939 for tickets.

•The January 30th Anniversary Gala for the Genesee Valley Council on the Arts will be held at the Livingston Arts Center, 4 Murray Hill Drive in Mt. Morris NY. The evening features desserts, champagne, music, art and more. Call (585) 243-6785.

•Nordic Hot Dog Days are scheduled for January 30 & 31 at the RMSC Cumming Nature Center on Gulick Road in Naples NY. There will be hot dogs, mulled cider and more; with proceeds going to the Genesee Valley Nordic Ski Patrol. Call (585) 374-6160.

•The Greater Rochester Boat Show is planned this year for February 4 thru 7 at the Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main Street. During the event, there will be wine tastings, clowns for the kids, special drawings and giveaways, and of course massive boat displays of Cruisers, Sport Boats, Pontoons, Fishing Boats, PWCs, Performance Boats, Canoes, Ski Boats, Kayaks, Jet Boats, Sunfish and Deck Boats; as well as accessories like docks and hoists. Go to www.rochesterboatshow.com.

•Another of the popular Seneca Park Zoo Br-r-rews will be held on Friday, February 5 at the Zoo, 2222 St. Paul St. One price includes live music by Brian Rath, food, and two drink tickets. You can also enjoy great desserts (even make your own s’mores!) and a cash bar. The 21-and-over event runs from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Call (585) 295-7390…and get your tickets ahead of time…they will not be sold at the door.

•Rustic Village Apartments at 999 E. Henrietta Road hosts their I Love My Pet Event on February 6. Throughout the day, there will be opportunities to have your picture taken with your pet, and to enjoy pet-themed refreshments, contests and door prizes. While admission is free, monetary or tangible donations will be accepted to benefit Lollypop Farm. Bring your pet along, too! Call (585) 424-4380 or go to www.RusticVillageApartments.com.

•You can bring your favorite “little person” to the Gates Community Center on February 6 to enjoy an evening of dancing, refreshments and fun. Dress is semi-formal for the Famliy Sweetheart Dance. The event is for Moms and sons and Dads and daughters. Call (585) 247-6100 by February 1 to register.

•On February 6, Ganondagan State Historic Site will celebrate the Seneca Ways of Winter with its annual Ganondagan Native American Winter Games & Sports event. You can watch dog sled racing, traditional maple sugaring, and the making of Native artist crafts. They’ll also be snowshoeing, Native games of Snow Snake, Native storytelling fireside in the longhouse, and Native foods for purchase. Call 585) 742-1690.

•An evening of fun, frolic and chance is planned on February 9 at the Riverside Convention Center, 123 E. Main Street. Mardi Gras Masquerade Madness supports a partnership between NYSRA’s Educational Foundation, the National Restaurant Association’s Pro-Start and Foodlink. There will be non-stop casino-style action, live jazz and Dixieland music, dinner stations of New Orleans style food, and a cash bar. So, put on your Mardi Gras costume and mask and join in the fun! Call (585) 678-4817.

WINTER WONDERS

Isn’t it great to live in upstate New York at this time of year? The beauty that surrounds us is nothing short of breathtaking. There are rolling hills covered with snow, city and village streets dotted with residents scurrying around in a holiday frenzy, frozen lakes surrounded by cozy cottages, roaring fireplaces, steep ski slopes and manicured ice rinks. For those who consider all winter activity to be a spectator sport, there are lodges, pubs and restaurants where you can snuggle by the fire, sip a hot toddy and watch the more adventurous folks scamper about in the cold.

For the outdoorsman, things just don’t get much better than winter in Rochester. The ice fishing in our Finger Lakes region is legendary. Area parks and golf courses provide manicured trails for hiking, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Sledding, downhill skiing, ice-skating and snowmobiling are all within your reach. Use the list below as your personal guide to the adventure of your choice. This truly is a land of Winter Wonders.

Cross-Country Skiing & Snowshoeing

Bristol Harbour Resort 5410 Seneca Point Rd., Canandaigua; 585-396-2200 x1 www.bristolharbour.com Groomed trails, open daily during daylight hours. Ski and limited snowshoe rentals available.

Bristol Mountain Summit Nordic Center 5589 South Hill Rd., Canandaigua; 585-374-6000 / Snow Report: 585-234-5000 or 585-374-1100 www.bristolmountain.com 1.2km trail with lighting and snowmaking; additional 1.8km loop open weather permitting. Tentative operating schedule: December 11-March 14, Mon.-Sun. 9 am-9 pm. Ski rentals available.

Eagle Vale Golf Club 4344 Nine Mile Point Rd., Fairport; 585-377-5200 www.eaglevale.com Semi-groomed trails, open 9 am-5 pm, daily, excluding holidays. Ski rentals available.

Genesee Country Nature Center at Genesee Country Village & Museum, 1410 Flint Hill Rd., Mumford; 585-538-6822 www.gcv.org Nearly 5 miles of marked themed trails available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Hours: Sat. & Sun. 10 am-4 pm; Call or see website for schedule. Ski and snowshoe rentals available.

Harriet Hollister Spencer State Recreation Area Canadice Hill Rd., Canadice, south of Honeoye; 585-335-8111 www.nysparks.com / www.xcrochester.com/new/conditions.htm Groomed ski trails maintained by Rochester Cross-Country Ski Foundation, plus mountain bike trails good for snowshoeing, open during daylight hours.

Letchworth State Park Parking at Visitor’s Center, Inspiration Point and Trailside Lodge, Castile Entrance, off Rt. 19A, Castile; 585-493-3600 www.nysparks.com Groomed trails. Park hours: 6 am-11 pm, daily. Guided nature ski hikes offered Sat. & Sun., Jan. 2-Feb. 21, starting at Trailside Lodge.

Mendon Ponds Park Canfield Rd. and Douglas Rd., Pittsford/Mendon; 585-753-7275 www.monroecounty.gov/parks Groomed trails, open during daylight hours. Best trails for snowshoeing located at Mendon Ponds Nature Center, on Pond Rd. near Clover St.

RMSC Cumming Nature Center 6472 Gulick Rd., Naples; 585-374-6160 www.rmsc.org Re-opens December 26. 15 miles of groomed ski trails, plus 2-mile snowshoe loop. Volunteers from the Genesee Valley Nordic Ski Patrol monitor trails. Hours: Wed.-Fri. 9 am-3:30 pm; Sat.-Sun. 9 am-4:30 pm. Ski and snowshoe rentals available.

Monroe County Parks Various Locations; 585-753-7275 www.monroecounty.gov/parks Walking trails at all county parks available for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing during daylight hours. See website for park locations and downloadable maps, or call for information.

Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding

Brantling Ski & Snowboard Center 4015 Fish Farm Rd., Sodus; 315-331-2365 www.brantling.com Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 4-9 pm; Fri. 4-10 pm; Sat. 9 am-9 pm; Sun. 9 am-5 pm, plus special holiday hours. Call or see website for updates. Ski and snowboard rentals available.

Bristol Mountain Resort 5662 Rt. 64, Canandaigua; 585-374-6000 / Ski Report: 585-374-1100 www.bristolmountain.com Hours: 9 am-4 pm, daily. Night operations tentatively scheduled to begin December 11, with extended hours until 10 pm. Ski and snowboard rentals available.

Northampton Park Hubbell Rd., Ogden; Northampton Lodge: 585-637-2345 / Swain Resort: 607-545-6511 / Snow Report: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com Open ski hours scheduled for December 19-March 14. Call Lodge or Swain Resort for hours of operation. Ski rentals available.

Powder Mills Park 154 Park Rd., off Rt. 96, Pittsford; Powder Horn Lodge: 585-586-1470 / Swain Resort / Snow Report: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com Open ski hours scheduled for December 19-March 14. Call Lodge or Swain Resort for update and hours of operation. Ski rentals available.

Swain Resort 2275 Main St., Swain, NY; 607-545-6511 / Snow Report: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com Hours: Mon.-Thurs. 1-9 pm; Fri.-Sun. 9 am-9 pm; Call or see website for early season hours, plus extended holiday hours. Ski and snowboard rentals available.

Ice Skating

Churchville Park N. Main St., Churchville; 585-753-7275 / 585-889-9610 www.monroecounty.gov/parks Outdoor rink (weather dependent) located next to Church Lodge. Warming hut available. Hours vary, call for schedule.

Ellison Park Blossom Rd.; 585-753-7275 www.monroecounty.gov/parks Outdoor rink (weather dependent) open during daylight hours, located on north side of park, lower Blossom Rd. Warming hut available.

ESL Sports Centre 2700 Brighton-Henrietta T.L. Rd. on the MCC Campus; 585-424-4625 x230 www.eslsportscentre.com Open skating hours vary. Call or see website for schedule. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Fairport Junction Ice Rink Liftbridge Lane East, Downtown Fairport; 585-425-1170 www.fairportpartnership.org Refrigerated outdoor rink open daily, noon-8 pm, weather permitting.

Genesee Valley Park Ice Arena 131 Elmwood Ave.; 585-428-7888 / Taped Information: 585-428-7889 www.cityofrochester.gov Open skating Mon.-Fri. noon-1:15 pm & Sun. 2-3:15 pm (all ages); Tues., Wed. & Thurs. 10:30-11:45 am (ages 18 and over); Fri. 10-11:30 pm (ages 16 and over). Call for additional holiday hours and special events. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Greater Canandaigua Civic Center 250 N. Bloomfield Rd., Canandaigua; 585-396-7230 www.gccc.org Open skating hours vary, see website for schedule. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Highland Park Highland and South Aves.; 585-753-7275 www.monroecounty.gov/parks Outdoor rink (weather dependent) open during daylight hours, located off of South Ave., near School #12. Warming hut available.

Lakeshore Hockey Arena 123 Ling Rd.; 585-865-2800 x5 www.lakeshorehockeyarena.com Open skating Sat. 6:15-7:45 pm for ages 12 and under with parent; Sat. 8:30-10 pm for ages 13 and older; Sun. 1:15-3 pm beginning in January. Call or see website for additional holiday hours. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Manhattan Square Park Ice Rink 353 Court St., Downtown Rochester; 585-428-7541 www.cityofrochester.gov Outdoor rink with open skating daily from noon-1:30 pm, 3:40-5:10 pm, 5:30-7 pm (except Sat.), and 7:20-8:50 pm (except Sun.); Adult skate (18 and over) Mon.-Fri. 1:50-3:20 pm. Call for holiday hours and special events. Limited skate rentals available.

RIT’s Frank Ritter Memorial Ice Arena 51 Lomb Memorial Dr.; 585-475-2223 www.rit.edu/studentaffairs/ciar Open skating Mon.-Thurs. 12:15-1:45 pm; Fri. 12:15-1:30 pm, 8-10 pm*; Sat. 2:30-4:30 pm*, 8-10 pm*; Sun. 12:15-2:15 pm*, 2:30-4:30 pm. *Hours subject to change, call for the most up-to-date information. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Scottsville Ice Arena 1800 Scottsville-Chili Rd., Scottsville; 585-889-1810 x4 www.scottsvilleicearena.com Open skating Sat. 7-9 pm; Sun. 3-5 pm. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Skating Institute of Rochester Shumway Arena One Boy’s Club Place; 585-325-2216 www.sirny.org Open skating Mon.-Fri. 11:30 am-1 pm. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

SUNY Brockport Tuttle Ice Arena New Campus Dr., Brockport; 585-395-2244 www.brockport.edu/recservices Open skating Tues. & Thurs. noon-1:30 pm; Wed. 9:30-11 pm; Fri. 6-7:45 pm; Sat.-Sun. 3-4:50 pm. *No public skating Dec. 11, 15, 17, 22, 24 & 25. Call or see website for special January schedule. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

SUNY Geneseo Wilson Ice Arena Park St., Geneseo; 585-245-5350 www.geneseo.edu (Click on Intercollegiate Athletics.) Open skating hours vary, call or see website for schedule.

Thomas Creek Ice Arena 80 Lyndon Rd., Fairport; 585-223-2160 x1 www.tcice.com Open skating hours vary, call or see website for schedule. Skate rentals and skate sharpening available.

Webster Ice Arena 865 Publishers Pkwy.; 585-787-3530 www.websterarena.org Open skating hours vary, call or see website for schedule. Skate rentals available.

Sledding

Monroe County Parks 585-753-7275 www.monroecounty.gov/parks Designated hills for sledding are located at the following parks: (See website for downloadable maps, or call for information.) *Black Creek Park - near Woodside Lodge, off of Union St., Spencerport/Chili. *Ellison Park - at corner of Blossom and Landing Rds. *Mendon Ponds Park (2 hills) - near East Lodge, off Canfield Rd., and across from Cavalry Lodge, Douglas Rd., Honeoye Falls. *Northampton Park - across from the Ski Lodge, Hubbell Rd., Ogden. *Powder Mills Park - near North Lodge, off Woolston Rd., Pittsford. *Webster Park - Parkview Lodge, Holt and E. Lake Rds., Webster.

Snowmobiling

Eastern Monroe County Trails www.websterridgerunners.com 40 miles of groomed trails maintained by Webster Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club connecting eastern Monroe County to western Wayne County. Trailheads with parking available at Ames Plaza, Rt. 104, Ontario; Granskofski’s Family Restaurant, 6270 Lakeside Rd., Ontario; Carey Lake, 959 Penfield Rd., Walworth. See website for maps and more information.

Hamlin Beach State Park Lake Ontario Parkway, Hamlin; 585-964-2462 x221 www.nysparks.com 6 miles of groomed trails, with heated comfort station located in Area #1. Hours: 6 am-11 pm, daily. *By permit only after dusk. Permits available at park office, 8 am-3 pm, daily.

Letchworth State Park Mt. Morris, Perry and Castile Entrances; 585-493-3600 / Hotline: 585-493-3660 www.nysparks.com 25 miles of groomed trails. Hours: 6 am-11 pm, daily. *By permit only after dusk. Permits and maps available at park office, 8 am-5 pm, Mon.-Fri.

Southern Monroe County Trails Henrietta Hill and Gully Riders Snow Phone: 585-234-4523 www.hillandgullyriders.org 15 miles of groomed trails maintained by Henrietta Hill and Gully Riders Snowmobile Club. Trailheads with parking available at Martin Road Park in Henrietta (until dark); Silvarole Trucking Company Parking Lot, Silvarole Dr., Henrietta, and on Rt. 251 in Scottsville, along the Greenway Trail. See website for maps and more information.

Western Monroe County Trails Hilton Sno-Flyers Snowmobile Club Snow Phone: 585-234-0629 www.hiltonsnoflyers.net 120 miles of groomed trails maintained by Hilton Sno-Flyers Snowmobile Club, connecting to Genesee and Orleans County trails. Trailheads with parking available at Churchville Park’s Cottonwood Lodge off of Main St., Churchville; Scottsville Ice Arena, 1800 Scottsville-Chili Rd., Scottsville, and the Dakota Grill, 913 Rt. 18, Hilton. See website for current info and events.

Snow Tubing

Bristol Harbor Resort 5410 Seneca Point Rd., Canandaigua; 585-396-2200 www.bristolharbour.com Opening date and hours to be determined. Tubes available on a first come, first served basis.

Gunny’s Gorge Tubing Park at Swain Ski Resort 2275 Main St., Swain, NY; 607-545-6511 / Snow Phone: 585-234-SNOW (7669) www.swain.com Opening December 26, weather permitting. Hours: Fri. 4-9 pm; Sat. 10 am-9 pm; Sun. 10 am-5 pm. Tubes supplied by Swain, only.

Letchworth State Park Trailside Lodge, Castile, off Rt. 19A, Castile; 585-493-3600 www.nysparks.com Hours: 9 am-4:30 pm, daily. Limited number of tubes available for public use. Visitors allowed to bring blow-up tubes only.

PolarWave Snow Tubing Park Harloff Rd., Batavia; 1-888-727-2794 www.polarwavebatavia.com Tentative opening date December 26. Hours: Sat. 10 am-8 pm; Sun. 11am-6 pm, plus some Fridays and holiday hours. Call or see website for updates. Tubes supplied by PolarWave, only.