Beignets, sangria and human dogsledding? Here’s everything you need to know about CNY Winterfest 2023

Syracuse Winterfest

Human Sled Dog races in Clinton Square are part of Winterfest in 2007. The Schaefer Collision team comes down the course. (L-R; Pat Corbett, Amanda Schaefer (rides in sled), Matt Trendell, Francis Clavin. Another team member hidden in background is Jared Yando.) David Lassman David Lassman | syracuse.com

This year will mark 39 years of (almost) annual Winterfests.

This year, the 10-day event is back from Feb. 16 to 26 with all the staples: human dogsledding, the medallion treasure hunt, food and drink tours around downtown, cornhole, trivia, fireworks and more.

Here’s the schedule, and answers to all of your Winterfest questions below.

Schedule

Thursday, Feb. 16

Treasure Hunt begins

Friday, Feb. 17

Figure drawing at Everson Museum of Art | 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. | Free

Ice skating at Coliseum Fairgrounds | 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Free, no skate rentals available

Fireworks at Iron Pier, Inner Harbor | 8:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. | Free

Saturday, Feb. 18

“Culinary Cruise” food tour | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

“Martini Mix-Off” tour | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

“Sangria Mix-Off” tour | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

Everson Museum of Art event, TBA | 2 p.m.

After the Cruise Party at Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub | 5 p.m. | Free

Sunday, Feb. 19

Winterfest at Inner Harbor | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Adult human dogsled race | 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. | $75 per team of 5
  • Ages 14 to 18 human dogsled race | noon to 1 p.m. | $15 per team of 4 (or fewer)
  • Ages 13 and under human dogsled race | noon to 1 p.m. | $15 per team of 4 (or fewer)

Cornhole tournament at Maxwell’s | 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. | $100 per team, open bar

Chili Cook-off | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

Beer tasting | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

Everson Museum of Art event, TBA | 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 23

Everson Museum of Art event, TBA | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 24

Ice skating at Coliseum Fairgrounds | 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | Free, no skate rentals available

Saturday, Feb. 25

“Cosmopolitan Mix-Off” | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

“Sandwich Stroll” | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

“Margarita Mix-Off” | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

Sunday, Feb. 26

Science, magic and juggling with Checkers the Inventor at Marriott Syracuse Downtown | Top of every hour from noon to 4 p.m. | Free

“Bloody Mary Mix-Off” | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

Chowder cook-off | noon to 4 p.m. | $5

Wing Walk | noon to 5 p.m. | $10 pre-sale or $15 after Feb. 25

Hammond Jammin’ XVIII keyboard performances at Dinosaur BBQ | noon to 5 p.m. | Free

Any questions?

What’s up with the human dogsled races?

Inner Harbor hosts the human dogsled races every year. The adult teams must be five people (four pullers, one sled rider) and the sled has to be home-made. The kid and teen teams can bring a store-bought sled. The course is about 100 feet. The two fastest teams in each race will compete again. Prizes go to the top three fastest teams, or to the teams who raise the most money for Helping Hounds Dog Rescue. There’s also a prize for “Best Team Spirit/Decorated Sled,” so get decorating. Tickets are $15 per person. Sign up at syracyseinnerharbor.ticketsauce.com.

For everyone else who shows up, there will be ice carving demonstrations, food trucks, arts & crafts, craft beers, live music, yard games and s’mores.

And the treasure hunt?

As in former years, a 1.5-inch medallion will be hidden in a public space in Onondaga county every morning. A clue will be posted each day at syracuse.com/treasure-hunt and on any of the newspaper’s social media. The first person to find the medallion will win $2,000. A unique telephone number and code are imprinted on the medallion, so only the person who finds the medallion will know how to claim the prize. The hunt ends when the medallion is found or at 5 p.m. on Feb. 25.

Syracuse.com and Countryside Federal Credit Union sponsor this event. The real medallion will not be hidden anywhere on the Countryside Federal Credit Union Property.

How do I join the trivia tournament?

The tournament started Jan. 9, so it’s a little too late to jump in now. But if you regularly play at Syracuse Trivia Company nights (listed here), you’re probably already in it. If you get enough points, STC will invite you to the Winterfest Tournament of Champions on Sunday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m. in the Marriott Syracuse Downtown. It’s $50 to register your team. There will be cash prizes for the top three teams.

And the cornhole tournament?

The tournament is Sunday, Feb. 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. To sign up, print out the waiver and registration form and bring $100 cash to Maxwell’s day-of. Each team is two people, and the $100 gets you access to an open bar.

Where do I buy tickets for the food and drink tours?

Tickets for the cook-offs, mix-offs tastings and the Wing Walk can be purchased beforehand at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown, or at any of the bars or restaurants that are participating in the events. Day-of tickets are sold at the Marriott Onondaga Street entrance from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. All tickets are $5 per person except the Wing Walk, which is $10 in advance or $15 day-of. You can vote for your favorites.

What are the Culinary Cruise locations?

Entrees: Bacon Mac & Cheese at Clinton Street Pub, Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese at Epicuse, Chicken Fajita at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, Riggies at PressRoom Pub, mushroom chevre naan pizza at Talking Cursive Brewing Co.

Apps: Peruvian Ceviche with Tostone at Eleven Waters, mini veggie quesadilla at Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, steak quesadilla at Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, loaded tots at Three Lives.

Desserts: Beignet at Across the Hall Cafe; Crownie bits at Cathy’s Cookie Kitchen; sugar cookie bar at Peace, Love & Cupcakes; pistachio panna cotta at Talking Cursive Brewing Co.

Martini Mix-off locations?

Clinton Street Pub, Eleven Waters, Gilded Club, Maxwells, Orbis Lounge, PressRoom Pub, Salt City Bar, Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Talking Cursive Brewing Co., Tallman Cocktail Co., The Penny, The Tasting Room and Three Lives.

Sangria Mix-off locations?

Board & Bar Charcuterie, Clinton Street Pub, Eleven Waters, Gilded Club, Limerick Pub, Orbis Lounge, PressRoom Pub, Salt City Bar, Saltine Warrior, Shaughnessey’s Irish Pub, The Penny, The Tasting Room and Three Lives.

Chili Cook-off locations?

Board & Bar Charcuterie, Eleven Waters, Epicuse, Hops Spot, Oh My Darling, Orbis Lounge, PressRoom Pub, Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Talking Cursive Brewing Co. and Three Lives.

Beer tasting locations?

Hop Flash at Eleven Waters, 20 East with Phantasm at Limerick Pub, Downeast Blackberry Cider at Orbis Lounge, 1911 at PressRoom Pub, Meier’s Creek Mocha Joe at Salt City Bar, Cinnamon Apple Amber Ale at Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Stacked Keys (Hazy IPA) at Talking Cursive Brewing Co., Sloop Juice Bomb at The Hops Spot and Franziskaner at Wolff’s Biergarten.

Cosmopolitan Mix-off locations?

Clinton Street Pub, Eleven Waters, Gilded Club, Orbis Lounge, PressRoom Pub, Saltine Warrior, Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Talking Cursive Brewing Co., Tallman Cocktail Co., The Penny, The Tasting Room and Three Lives.

Margarita Mix-off locations?

Board & Bar Charcuterie, Clinton Street Pub, Eleven Waters, Gilded Club, Guadalajara Mexican Resturant, Limerick Pub, Maxwells, Orbis Lounge, PressRoom Pub, Salt City Bar, Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, The Penny, The Tasting Room, Three Lives and XO Taco at Original Grain.

Sandwich Stroll locations?

Sweet & Sour Chicken at Board & Bar Charcuterie, Pulled Pork sandwich at Clinton Street Pub, turkey pesto panini at Eleven Waters, turkey pepperjack panini at Epicuse, Mandarin turkey club at Original Grain, short rib slider at PressRoom Pub, Shaughnessey’s signature sandwich at Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Rodeo Burger at Talking Cursive Brewing Co. and Smash Burger slider at Three Lives.

Bloody Mary Mix-off locations?

Board & Bar Charcuterie, Clinton Street Pub, Eleven Waters, Gilded Club, Limerick Pub, Modern Malt, Orbis Lounge, PressRoom Pub, Salt City Bar, Saltine Warrior, Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub, Talking Cursive Brewing Co., The Penny, The Tasting Room, Three Lives and Wolff’s Biergarten.

Chowder Cook-off locations?

Board & Bar Charcuterie; Eleven Waters; Epicuse; Oh My Darling; Peace, Love and Cupcakes; PressRoom Pub; Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub; Talking Cursive Brewing Co.; The Fish Friar; The Hops Spot and Three Lives.

Wing Walk locations?

Clinton Street Pub, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Eleven Waters, Funk & Waffles, Maxwells, PressRoom Pub, Saltine Warrior Sports Pub and Shaughnessy’s Irish Pub.

Who’s designated driver?

Centro will bus people around from restaurant to restaurant both weekends. The shuttles will run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 18; Sunday, Feb. 19; and Saturday, Feb. 25. It’ll run an hour later, until 5:30 p.m., on Sunday, Feb. 26.

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