Biddeford readies downtown snow hill for WinterFest

Construction of a large sledding hill is under way on a street in downtown Biddeford in preparation for the third annual WinterFest.

The sledding hill, built entirely by volunteers, is the highlight of the three-day event, which kicks off Friday with the Biddeford Big Air and Rail Jam featuring 50 skiers and snowboarders.

Additional Photos

Adams Street was closed to traffic Thursday morning and will remain closed through the weekend.

The sledding hill on Adams Street is made with as much as 4,000 cubic yards of snow that has been stockpiled at local shopping centers. The clean top snow comes from the Biddeford Municipal Airport.

The festival was launched as a way to get people outdoors in the winter and bring the community together, said organizer John Maxson.

The festival will begin at 6 p.m. Friday with the Big Air and Rail Jam.

Riders will compete for $2,000 in cash prizes. There is no charge to watch the contest.

The sledding hill will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, with sleds available to borrow. There will also be free ice skating at the West Brook rink and a variety of winter activities in City Square.

Gillian Graham can be contacted at 791-6315 or at:[email protected]Twitter: @grahamgillian

Related Stories