The Mansfield Downtown Partnership invites residents and visitors to celebrate the new season at the Sixth Annual Winter Welcome on Saturday, December 1. Winter Welcome will take place on and around Betsy Paterson Square in Downtown Storrs from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Winter Welcome will feature a winter-themed puppet show at the Ballard Institute & Museum of Puppetry; ice sculptures on Paterson Square; a chance to see a fire truck up-close and meet a fire fighter with the Mansfield Fire Department; and a visit from Santa Claus at Barnes & Noble UConn. There will be activities, specials, and treats at participating downtown businesses.

Strolling musicians and carolers, including The UConn Chordials, Consonare, Drop the Bass, and Husky Hungama, will delight visitors with pop-up performances throughout the downtown. At 4:00 PM, the E. O. Smith Choirs will lead a Community Sing-Along on Paterson Square to cap off the festivities.

During this year’s Winter Welcome, Mansfield Resident Troopers will collect donations of unwrapped toys and gift cards as part of their annual Stuff-a-Cruiser effort. They will be on Paterson Square throughout the event. The toys and gift cards will be donated directly to families in need in Mansfield by the Town of Mansfield Human Services Department.

Winter Welcome is free and open to the public. This event will take place rain or shine.

Parking is available in the Downtown Storrs Parking Garage, which is free for the first two hours and just $1/hour thereafter, with a daily maximum charge of $8.

For more information, please visit mansfieldct.gov/winterwelcome.