CAMDEN — Camden Winterfest, the week-long celebration leading up to the U.S. National Toboggan Championships, kicks off on Saturday, Feb. 4, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 12. Activities begin downtown at the Amphitheatre, Harbor Park and Village Green and continue right through the Toboggan Nationals the following weekend at the Camden Snow Bowl.

The opening weekend kicks off with community-wide festivities, including the Maine State Snow Sculpting Championships on the Village Green, CamJam (a freesyle ski and snowboard competition) at Harbor Park, a Community Ice Festival at the Amphitheatre and a Winter Health Fair at Camden Whole Health.

Family fun will take place through the week with evening events for the whole family. A screening of the movie Narnia will take place at the Camden Public Library on Feb. 7, and the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers will return to the Camden Opera House on Feb. 8 for a puppet show for children of all ages.

To really get the party going, CJ Chenier and the Red Hot Louisiana Band will be playing at the Camden Opera House on Thursday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. and the Downtown Dance, featuring Mid Life Crisis, will take place on Saturday, Feb. 11, at 7:30 p.m. at 16 Bay View Hotel. Both events have limited capacity and are sure to be a great time. Visit camdenwinterfest.com to purchase your tickets today.

Friday, Feb. 10 is the first day of the Toboggan Nationals that continue on Saturday and Sunday. Also taking place on Friday, Feb. 10, is the Snow Plow Parade through downtown Camden at 6 p.m. and the Banff Film Festival at Camden Hills Regional High School’s Strom Theater at 7 p.m.

Another highlight of the celebration, the annual West Bay Rotary Chili Challenge, is taking place on Saturday, Feb. 11, from 4 to 7 p.m., upstairs at Sea Dog Brewing Co.

Join in celebrating the winter months in the Midcoast.

Sponsors of the 2017 Winterfest and the U.S. National Toboggan Championships, municipal events whose proceeds benefit the town-owned Snow Bowl, are (Gold) Camden National Bank, Maine Today Media, Sea Dog Brewing Company; (Silver) Bay View Collection, MaineCoast TV, Broadreach Public Relations, Penobscot Bay Pilot, Adventure Advertising; (Bronze) Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Journey's End Marina, Design Shorty & Co.; (Copper) Spouter Inn Bed & Breakfast, Knockabout Toys, Ballou & Associates, Karyl’s & Manny’s, Camden Downtown Business Group and Avis/Budget Rental.

A full schedule of Winterfest events and more information can be found at camdenwinterfest.com.