Celebrate the start of the new season at our 13th Annual Winter Welcome!

The Mansfield Downtown Partnership invites residents and friends of all ages tocelebrate the start of the new season at its 13th Annual Winter Welcome. This fun, free event will takeplace on Saturday, December 6 from 4:00 PM to 6:30 PM on Betsy Paterson Square in DowntownStorrs.

Winter Welcome will feature hands-on, wintry fun with local businesses and community organizations.Activities will include a puzzle swap, animal tracking & habitat games, snow-themed fun, and even (toy)ax-throwing!

Be on the look-out for some special visitors who will appear throughout the event, including a 12-foot tall polar bear, a ton of tubas, everyone's favorite Husky, and two jolly friends! Santa and Mrs. Claus will visit with friends indoors at Barnes & Noble UConn from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM.

During Winter Welcome, the Mansfield Resident State Troopers will collect new, unwrapped toys and gifts for kids and teens. Bring your donation to help stuff their cruiser! Donated items will be distributed to local families in need by Mansfield Human Services.

Be sure to check out the entries in our Trim-A-Tree contest, which will be set-up on Betsy Paterson Square. Vote for your favorites at the Partnership's booth and receive a gift (while supplies last).

Enjoy seasonal stories and songs with Mansfield Public Library and performances by Mansfield Academy of Dance, Miss Kelly's Productions, and the UConn Tap Club on the stage of the Jeffery P. Ossen Family Foundation Pavilion on Betsy Paterson Square. And, visit participating Downtown Storrs businesses for sales, specials, and treats during Winter Welcome.

To accommodate Winter Welcome, the following streets will be closed from 1:00 PM until approx. 7:30 PM:

Bolton Road Ext.
Dog Lane from Storrs Road to Royce Circle (near Jefferson Fry Co.)
Royce Circle from Dog Lane to Wilbur Cross Way
West Access Road (behind 33 Wilbur Cross Way)

There will be no on-street parking on the above listed streets beginning at 12:00 PM.

Parking will be available in the Downtown Storrs Parking Garage, which is located at 33 Royce Circle and is about a 2-minute walk to Betsy Paterson Square.

Winter Welcome is free and open to everyone to attend. The event will take place rain, snow, or shine. Some activities may be adjusted due to weather. Changes will be announced on the Downtown Storrs website at downtownstorrs.org/winterwelcome.