Enjoy frosty fun around Betsy Paterson Square:

• Ice sculptures by UConn Dining Services

• Puzzle swap with the Mansfield Public Library; Learn more here

• Learn about animal behaviors in winter with Connecticut State Museum of Natural History

• Ax-throwing game with UConn Woodsmen

• Animal tracks matching game with The Last Green Valley

• Make ballerina snowflakes with Mansfield Academy of Dance

• Snow-tastic fun with Mansfield Human Services

• Winter village and train display with Villari’s Martial Arts of Mansfield

• Pin the carrot on the snowman with UConn Lions Club

• Make “Rolling Cones” with Waldron’s Studio 88 (decorating pine cones to look like rock stars!)

• Solve the “Mys-tree” with UConn KIDS!

• Wintry games with Smart Connections LLC

• Vaccine clinic with Eastern Highlands Health District (EHHD)

• Making snowflakes with the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry

• Preview the Community Nutcracker by Miss Kelly’s Productions

• Check out Mansfield Fire Department truck

Enjoy seasonal stories, songs, and dance with:

• 4:15 PM UConn Tubas

• 4:30 PM: Mansfield Public Library

• 5:00 PM: Miss Kelly’s Productions - Community Nutcracker

• 5:30 PM: Mansfield Academy of Dance

• 6:00 PM: UConn Tap Club

Many thanks to the following businesses and organizations that supplied goodies for our gift bags:

• Action Packed

• Bagel Zone

• Connecticut Repertory Theatre

• Eat Joy

• Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts

• Mansfield Downtown Partnership

• Mountain Dairy Creamery

• Nikki’s Dog House

• Playa Bowls

• Villari’s Martial Arts of Mansfield

• Waldron’s Studio 88

• William Benton Museum of Art

At 4:00 PM, listen for the sound of tubas - yes, tubas! - as two holly jolly VIPs make their way through Downtown Storrs!

Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with their friends from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM inside Barnes & Noble UConn in Downtown Storrs (1 Royce Circle, across the street from Betsy Paterson Square).

Santa and Mrs Claus will be escorted to the bookstore by the UConn Marching Band Tuba Section, who will stroll and play outside for a little while.

Savor the season with treats and specials at these participating Downtown Storrs businesses:

• Dog Lane Cafe: Free hot chocolate (one per person)

• Gansett Wraps: Free small prize with purchase of a wrap (must present flyer for offer - pick up your flyer at the Partnership booth during Winter Welcome)

• Huskies Restaurant & Bar: Enjoy our special “Storry Night”: Blue Law Bourbon, Lemon, Falernum, Clove and a Red Wine Float

• Nikki’s Dog House: Free fries with minimum $5 purchase

• Playa Bowls: $3 off Winter Specials

• Square Peg Pizzeria: Buy a $100 gift card, get a $25 gift card on us!

Help the Mansfield Resident State Troopers stuff their cruiser during Winter Welcome!

The Troopers will be stationed near Betsy Paterson Square to collect new, unwrapped gifts and toys. Suggested items include:

• Toys for all ages, including teens

• Winter coats and snow suits

• Stocking stuffers

• Gift cards for local businesses

All donated items will be distributed to Mansfield families in need.

To accommodate Winter Welcome, several streets within Downtown Storrs will be closed from 1:00 PM to approx. 8:00 PM:

• Dog Lane from Royce Circle (near Jefferson Fry Co.) to Storrs Road (near Dog Lane Cafe)

• Royce Circle from the intersection with Wilbur Cross Way to Dog Lane (near Barnes & Noble UConn)

• Bolton Road Ext.

• West Access Road (behind Huskies Restaurant & Bar)

There will be no on-street parking on these streets beginning in the morning.

The Downtown Storrs Parking Garage will be open and FREE on Saturday!

To access the garage, follow Wilbur Cross Way from Charles Smith Way to Royce Circle. Turn right onto Royce Circle followed by a slight left. The garage entrance will be on your left.

From there, it is about a 2-minute walk to Betsy Paterson Square.