WATERVILLE — Despite scaled-back offerings and a new name, a long-standing event on Quarry Road still drew hundreds on Saturday.

Formerly known as the Winter Carnival, the newly titled Community Free Ski Day & Winter Fun Day went off without a hitch Saturday, as people from Waterville and surrounding towns came to see what was offered at the Quarry Road Recreation Area. Gates opened at 8 a.m. at the 220-acre site, but the event — which included free skiing, snowshoeing, bicycling and a snow sculpture contest— kicked off at 10 a.m. Caroline Mathes, an organizer of the event and a member of the Friends of Quarry Road board of directors, said the site had been busy with visitors since 9:30 a.m.

In past years, the event was larger in scale and included dog sledding and food from local vendors. However, organizers wanted to provide a better representation of what was offered in the winter on Quarry Road, so they did away with dog sledding. And Mathes said while the dogs did draw people in the past, the Jan. 28 event was still going well and getting people outside.

Waterville resident Michael Ansdell said he and his 7-year-old son go to Quarry Road regularly.

“It’s wonderful to have Quarry Road out here,” he said outside the welcome center. He said he and his son had fat-biked into the area, and they only live a little over a mile away.

“We’re so lucky in Waterville to have this,” he said.

Colin Ellis can be contacted at 861-9253 or at:

cellis@centralmaine.com

Twitter: colinoellis

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