Celebrate the start of the new season at our 11th Annual Winter Welcome!
The Mansfield Downtown Partnership invites residents and friends of all ages to celebrate the start of the new season at its 11th Annual Winter Welcome.
This fun, free event will take place on Saturday, December 2 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM in Downtown Storrs.
Stroll along Royce Circle and visit community displays featuring games, crafts, and more! Participating businesses and community organizations will include: A1 the Roofing Experts; Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry; Jeff's Kettle Corn; Miss Kelly Productions; Nautical Bowls; Renewal by Andersen; UConn KIDS; and Villari's Martial Arts of Mansfield.
There will be winter-themed activities indoors at 40 Wilbur Cross Way, Suite 104 and 9 Dog Lane, Suite 110 hosted by: Eastern Highlands Health District; E. O. Smith Leo Club; Levin Aerial Works; Rooted Dreams Floral; Waldron's Studio 88; and the Town of Mansfield Human Rights Commission, Human Services Department, and Youth Services.
Check out the entries in the Trim-A-Tree Contest on Betsy Paterson Square, then vote for your favorite at the Partnership’s booth. The top three trees will win prizes! While you’re visiting the Partnership, be sure to pick up a gift bag filled with giveaways and treats from Mansfield businesses (while supplies last).
Visitors are encouraged to give back to our community during Winter Welcome by contributing to the Mansfield Resident State Trooper’s Stuff-a-Cruiser Toy Drive. The Troopers will collect new, unwrapped gifts near Betsy Paterson Square. And, look for the Mansfield Fire Department who will be nearby with a decorated fire truck!
Listen for the sound of tubas (yes, tubas!) and look for a jolly friend to arrive around 4:00 PM near Betsy Paterson Square! Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with friends at Barnes & Noble UConn until 6:00 PM.
Following Santa’s arrival, enjoy a performance and sing-along by the E. O. Smith Choirs on Betsy Paterson Square. At 5:00 PM, students from Mansfield Elementary School will perform indoors at Barnes & Noble.
To accommodate Winter Welcome, the following streets will be closed from 1:00 PM until 7:30 PM:
Bolton Road Ext.
Dog Lane from Storrs Road to Royce Circle (near Jefferson Fry Co.)
Royce Circle from Dog Lane to Wilbur Cross Way
West Access Road (behind 33 Wilbur Cross Way)
There will be no on-street parking on the above listed streets beginning at 12:00 PM.
There will be free parking in the Downtown Storrs Parking Garage from 2:00 PM to 7:00 PM. The garage is located at 33 Royce Circle and is just a 2-minute walk to Betsy Paterson Square.
For more information about Winter Welcome, please visit downtownstorrs.org/winterwelcome or call the Partnership office at 860.429.2740.