By Jennifer Primrose | Photos courtesy of WinterFest |
Blowing Rock has long been one of my favorite towns in the High Country. A place that resembles a setting from a Hallmark movie. In winter, the streets glisten with fresh snow, shop windows glow with warm light, and fireplaces crackle inside the inns and restaurants that line Main Street. While the town shines in every season, it’s in the middle of winter that Blowing Rock comes alive during its annual WinterFest.
I first attended the festival in 2013, driving into a snowstorm and quickly realizing that nothing slows down this mountain town. Locals and visitors bundled up for chili cook-offs, wine tastings, ice carving, and the daring Polar Bear Plunge. Each visit since then has reinforced that WinterFest tells a story of community, creativity, and resilience.
The festival helps raise money for local grants, benefiting nonprofits and strengthening the town’s spirit of giving. By joining this celebration, attendees are not just enjoying a vibrant festival—they are contributing to the heart of Blowing Rock. That story began in 1998, when restaurateur Jimmy Crippen and his wife Carolyn were facing the quiet lull of Blowing Rock’s off-season. “My wife said, ‘Why doesn’t this town do a winter carnival?” Crippen recalls.
“I thought, yeah, why not? WinterFest was about survival—figuring out how to make it through winter.” He expected just a handful of locals to support the idea, but when 70 people showed up to his first meeting, he realized he wasn’t alone. With community backing, the first WinterFest launched the following January under a tagline that still defines it today: Don’t Hibernate, Celebrate.
From the start, the iconic Chetola Resort played a pivotal role. Marcia Greene, who served as the resort’s marketing director for nearly two decades, remembers those early planning sessions. “We hosted the Polar [Bear] Plunge from the very first year, and it was a huge success. We set the rules, staged a parade, and even handed out a Golden Plunger Award covered in glitter for the best costume,” she says. “The first year, [we had] maybe 30 plungers. By 2016, there were 130.” Costumes became part of the tradition, and she recalls one couple who would plunge every year, often dressed as ducks or penguins, and win the Golden Plunger Award more than anyone. Even into their later years, they continued to plunge.
The Polar Bear Plunge soon became the highlight of WinterFest, attracting crowds of participants and onlookers to Chetola Lake. Warren Cathcart, current owner of the resort, describes it as pure joy. “It’s all laughter and a little bit of hypothermia before heading into the sauna,” he chuckles, recalling plungers in everything from “Macho Man” Randy Savage to Flintstones outfits.
Greene laughs when she remembers how organizers worked to build the spectacle. “We had plungers march down in costume to Olympic fanfare, and then we blasted songs like Splish Splash and Jump during the plunge. It was a show,” she says. Local news anchor John Carter eventually became the emcee, lending the event even more visibility.
Over the years, WinterFest has grown into a whole weekend of celebration. Thursday evening begins with WinterFeast at Chetola Resort’s Timberlake’s Restaurant and Pub, where local restaurants offer guests a chance to sample a variety of dishes.
Friday night brings the Ice Stroll along Main Street. Inside the shops, live music and tastings keep the atmosphere lively, while at Chetola Resort, the Festival of Lights transforms the lake with nearly 30,000 bulbs—a family favorite where guests sip hot cocoa as they wander the grounds.
Saturday morning belongs to the Polar Bear Plunge, but the day hardly ends there. Food lovers head to the Rotary Chilly Chili Challenge, where local restaurants ladle out steaming bowls of chili in pursuit of the People’s Choice Award. Erin O’Hara of Meadowbrook Inn explains, “Every business that does a chili will partner with a local nonprofit—voters drop dollars, and the dollars vote for who’s got the best chili.”
By afternoon, festivalgoers can choose between the WinterFest Beer Garden at Meadowbrook Inn, which pours regional brews, or the Sip & Savor Wine Tasting and Auction at Chetola Resort, which features both regional and international wines. “From chili dollars to wine auctions, every piece ties back to local nonprofits,” O’Hara notes. “It brings a tremendous boost to restaurants, hotels, and shops in town.”
Of course, WinterFest doesn’t forget the kids—or even the dogs. Saturday’s entertainment might include hayrides, ice-carving demonstrations in Memorial Park, or a meet-and-greet with the ice sisters from Frozen. Sunday wraps up with a pancake breakfast and the WinterPaws Dog Show, where four-legged festivalgoers strut their stuff.
Weather has always played a starring role, whether it’s freezing beer taps, fog rolling in so thick that paradegoers could barely see, or ice reforming on the lake overnight that crews had to break repeatedly for the plunge. O’Hara remembers one particularly frigid year: “It was so cold they had to break ice on the lake during the plunge—and people were more excited to jump.” Greene recalls another time when the fog was so dense that the Carolina Panthers cheerleaders, invited to boost the festivities, could barely be seen—but the show continued on. The unpredictable weather makes each WinterFest unique, creating stories relished long after the snow has melted.
Through it all, one constant has been the volunteers. “We couldn’t do it without them—there’s no way,” says Brooke Rule, event coordinator for the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce. Between Rotary members, EMS staff, and dozens of community members, as many as 70 volunteers are needed each year to keep the events running smoothly.
WinterFest enters its 28th year in 2026 and continues to grow. Rule and the Chamber are working to make each year better, exploring ideas such as moving the beer garden outdoors with firepits and live music, expanding the ice sculpture program into a dedicated “garden,” and encouraging more family-friendly activities. “WinterFest is a family event—the dog show, ice sculptures, WinterFeast—they appeal to all ages. And we want younger families to discover Blowing Rock, too,” Rule explains.
The event’s impact goes beyond the weekend itself. Hotels book up months in advance, restaurants hum with energy during what would otherwise be a slow season, and nonprofits secure vital support. “From the start, it boosted the economy, helped nonprofits, and gave locals a reason to celebrate. That’s why it’s lasted nearly three decades,” says Charles Hardin, retired president and CEO of the Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce.
Looking ahead to WinterFest 2026, visitors can expect beloved traditions alongside fresh surprises—from family-friendly fun to live music and festive activities—all set against the scenic beauty of Blowing Rock. To ensure you don’t miss out, book your accommodations early to avoid fully reserved rooms. Start planning your visit now, and be a part of this unforgettable celebration.
WinterFest usually takes place toward the end of January, with next year’s celebration scheduled for January 22–25, 2026. Full event details, schedules, and updates can be found on the festival’s website: blowingrockwinterfest.com.
For past attendees, WinterFest feels like a reunion with familiar faces, local pride, and plenty of fun. For newcomers, it’s an invitation into the heart of the community. “A lot of small-town festivals come and go, but WinterFest has grown, adapted, and stayed true to itself for nearly three decades. That’s what makes Blowing Rock special,” Hardin states.
And for Crippen, who planted the first seed of the idea back in 1998, the festival’s message remains as true as ever: “For organizers, keep it fresh. For attendees, don’t wait to enjoy life. Don’t hibernate—celebrate.”
