Mendon Parks Winterfest

Winterfest 2025!

Saturday, January 25th 2025 - 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Winterfest is here again! We're excited to for another year of this beloved community event. Bring the whole family and come on out to Mendon Ponds Park for a FREE, fun-filled, action-packed day, brought to you by County Executive Adam J. Bello, and the Monroe County Department of Parks!

NEW THIS YEAR: For the first time we are excited to announce Winterfest 2025 will begin with a 5k run presented by YellowJacket Racing. The first annual Hot Cocoa 5k and kids race, will kicks off the event at 10am with the award ceremony beginning at 11am with the official start to Winterfest. Race information available on YellowJacket Racing website and run sign up available through runsignup.com.

Do expect partial road closures within the park around the time of the road race. 

Schedule and Map

(Click to view full size)
Winterfest Map & Schedule

Activities include:

STEWART LODGE

  • 546 Chicken and Waffles (food)

  • Chef's Mobile Kitchen (food)

  • Edgemere Coffee (food)

  • Mike 192 Sauce Co. (vendor)

  • Monroe County Forestry (lumber mill)

  • Renewal By Anderson (vendor)

  • RIT Press (book signing)

  • Rochester Kettle Corn (food)

  • Rochester Red Wings (Spike & Mittsy)

  • South East Area Coalition (crafts)

  • UofR after Hours (acapella group)

  • Yellowjacket Racing (5K & kids race)

EAST & WEST LODGES

  • Geocachers of Rochester (activity)
  • Heberle Stables (wagon rides)
  • Monroe County DES (recycling info)
  • Monster Tree service (arborist)
  • NY State Troopers (display)
  • Pittsford Interact (kids games)
  • Yakisobas (food)
  • Zoo Mobile (animals)

NATURE CENTER

  • Monroe County Sheriff (mounted unit)
  • Wild Wings (bird sanctuary)

EVERGREEN SHELTER

  • ADK Club (snow shoe)

Important Information

Parking: At each shelter, lodge, or parking lot. East and West Lodge closed for Hay rides to turn around and load in, as well as Stewart lots closed for display purposes.  

Bathrooms: There are flush toilet facilities and portapotties conveniently distributed throughout the park.

Staying Warm: Each lodge has a warming fire or heat.

Do you have a business or organization that would like to volunteer and provide activities for Winterfest?

If you are interesting in being a part of Winterfest there are two different forms you can complete, the exhibitor form is for volunteer organizations that would like like to run an activity or showcase thier organizaiotn as volunteers only. If you organizaiton would like to sell any merchandise from your organization or are a food vendor you would need to complete the vendor form. 

Fill out the best form for your group and send it to [email protected] by January 3rd if you are interested! Be advised Monroe County reserves the right to not accept exhibitors or vendors, and has final say on set up location for organizations. 

The event is spread throughout the park, including the Nature Center area, East & West Lodges, Evergreen Shelter, Stewart Lodge, on the trails, and on the sledding hills!

Event runs from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm, vendor set up willl be between 9am-11am.

Heberle Stables hayrides at Winterfest 2020 (Note: Photo taken Jan. 2020 pre-COVID restrictions)
Families enjoying hayrides provided by Heberle Stables at Winterfest in January 2020.

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