Scarpa Takes Home "Ice Wars" Title

A forty year tradition was recently celebrated at as nearly 10,000 visitors came to Middlefield to enjoy the fun side of winter at Lyman’s annual Winterfest.    

With modest beginnings rooted in celebration of the New England tradition of Sugar-On-Snow, Lyman’s annual Winterfest has evolved through its forty year history to become one of Connecticut’s most popular winter-time attractions.  While new activities have been added through the years, the event has held fast to its tradition of offering visitors great food and good old-fashioned fun.  

The 40^th Anniversary celebration included visits with the Connecticut Valley Siberian Husky Club, fruit tree pruning demonstrations, tractor-pulled hayrides rides through the orchard, and food sampling in the Apple Barrel where guests enjoyed complimentary tastings of Lyman’s fresh-baked pies, cookies, and specialty foods.   In the spirit of Alaska’s famous Iditarod, visitors also experienced the thrill of “mushing” on the grounds of the Apple Barrel. Provided by Northern Exposure Outfitters of Brookfield, MA, hands-on educational sessions informed guests about the amazing sport of recreational dogsled racing. 

Highlighting the event was a two-day Ice Wars carving competition between nationally recognized, top ranking professional ice carvers.  Jeff Scarpa, of Salisbury, CT took top honors as the overall winner of the two-day battle in which carvers tested their skills, imagination, and endurance over three events: Compulsory, Free-style, and an intense Speed Challenge where carvers had only 30 minutes to carve a design from an idea they pulled from a hat.  

In addition to overall champion Jeff Scarpa, Bill Covitz of Cheshire took second place and third place was won by Matt Terzano of New Milford.