The 2020 Trim-a-Tree contest winners were the Tulman and Beck-Ferruci Families with their entry "Lord of the (Five Golden) Rings."
Photo by Levin Aerial Works
November 30, 2021 – The Mansfield Downtown Partnership invites Mansfield residents and friends of all ages to join in the frosty fun at its 9th Annual Winter Welcome on Saturday,
December 4 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM in Downtown Storrs.
E. O. Smith Choirs will kick off the festivities at 4:00 PM with a performance and Community Sing-Along at the Jeffrey P. Ossen Family Foundation Pavilion on Betsy Paterson Square. Following the Sing-Along, be sure to visit the Partnership’s booth to pick up a goodie bag and map of participating Downtown Storrs businesses, who will have seasonal treats and specials available throughout the event.
On display on Betsy Paterson Square will be decorated trees. Everyone is invited to marvel at the creativity of participating families, businesses, and community organizations and then vote for their favorite tree. To vote, visit @DowntownStorrs on Facebook and like the photo of your favorite tree(s). the three trees with the most likes/votes at the end of the day Sunday will receive prizes!
In addition to the trees, there will be creative community displays throughout Downtown Storrs. Mansfield businesses, community organizations, and families will put to good use lights, props, music, and more to bring to life their winter or holiday theme or a theme of their choice.
The Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry’s 2020 seasonal display featured giant puppets and shadow puppets depicting the arrival of winter.
Photo by Levin Aerial Works.
One such display by the Partnership will feature “The Snow Sisters!” Stop by Wilbur Cross Way to say hello to the two ice princesses, and be sure to catch their performance of seasonal songs on Betsy Paterson Square at 5:00 PM. When visiting, the Partnership asks everyone to wear a mask and maintain a social distance.
There will be even more seasonal music provided by strolling caroling groups, including Consonare Choir Matrix, Mansfield Middle Schools chorus, and Husky Hungama. And at 4:30 PM, the Southeast School Singers and Songbirds will perform on Betsy Paterson Square.
During the event, there will be two opportunities to support community members in need. The Resident State Troopers’ Office will be by Betsy Paterson Square, collecting unwrapped gifts and toys to “Stuff-a-Cruiser.” The donated items will be given to patients at Connecticut Children’s. Over on Wilbur Cross Way, Oliver’s Pajama Project will collect new sets of pajamas for children in Connecticut. Drop off your pajama donation and help decorate their tree with a coloring of pajamas. Please visit downtownstorrs.org/winterwelcome for more information about each initiative and guidelines for donating.
And, last but not least, a special holly jolly visitor is coming to (down)town! Santa Claus will visit with his friends from 4:15 PM to 6:00 PM in front of Barnes & Noble UConn (1 Royce Circle). For the safety of Santa, his elves, and our community, everyone must wear masks and maintain a safe distance during their visit.
Winter Welcome is free and open to everyone.
The event will be held rain, shine or snow.
For more information about Winter Welcome, please visit downtownstorrs.org/winterwelcome.
For the health and safety of our community, the Partnership asks everyone to remain masked when visiting “The Snow Sisters” and Santa Claus and when a distance of 6 feet from others cannot be maintained.
The Town of Mansfield currently requires everyone – regardless of vaccination status – to wear a mask when indoors in public buildings and private businesses.
ROAD CLOSURES
To accommodate this event, the following streets will be closed from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Saturday, December 4, 2021:
Wilbur Cross Way from Elsie Marsh Way to Royce Circle
Royce Circle from Wilbur Cross Way to Dog Lane
Dog Lane from Storrs Road to Royce Circle
Bolton Road Ext.
West Access Road
There will be NO ON-STREET PARKING on the above-noted streets beginning at 12:00 PM.
PARKING
The Downtown Storrs Parking Garage (33 Royce Circle) will be open throughout the event. Parking in the garage is free for the first two hours, and then just $1/hour thereafter.
Access to the Downtown Storrs Parking Garage will be available all day from Wilbur Cross Way to Elsie Marsh Way and from Elsie Marsh Way to Royce Circle.
Additional parking is available in the Dog Lane Lot (behind 9 Dog Lane). Parking in this lot is free but limited to two hours only.