Editor's note: The original version of this story repeated erroneous information given by an event organizer. The children’s scavenger hunt will be at the Brick Store Museum on Sat Feb. 27, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Also, Oakie, the Oakhurst Dairy mascot is an acorn. It has been corrected here/

By Suzanne Hodgson
Staff Writer

With Kennebunk downtown revitalization around the corner, merchants are doing their part to bring new activities to Kennebunk’s traditional business district.
Winterfest takes place Saturday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and includes seasonal activities and games for families.
The festival will include a craft fair, horse-drawn carriage rides and children’s activities, including face painting and a visit from Oakie the Oakhurst acorn.
A children’s scavenger hunt will be held at Brick Store museum from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“I’m cutting out 1,500 snowman pieces out of foam,” said Deena Galanti from Fresh Start. The children will collect eight different snowman pieces to be eligible for a bike drawing, Galanti said. The children may also draw and color snowmen for another contest.
The library will hold a book sale and The New School will have a sports gear swap.
In addition, a Kennebunk best soup competition for local restaurants is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. next to Toppings Pizza. More than 15 restaurants are expected to take part in the event.
The Kennebunk Fire Station will hold fire safety demonstrations behind the old Mobil Station.
The Kennebunk merchants group began meeting after the town began talks about downtown revitalization project.
“We all agreed at the first meeting to not just get the revitalization passed, we’d do our part to bring activities and interest to the downtown,” said Dave Rizzo, owner of Perfecto’s and member of the merchants group. “We’re about to invest a significant amount of money to have that central gathering place.”
Merchants hope activities as well as the revitalization will draw more residents to shop and walk around the historic buildings in downtown Kennebunk.
Kennebunk used to have a Winter Carnival but Rizzo said Winterfest will be a new program.
“I think it’s a great idea, definitely worth pursuing.  Accenting the downtown more is a good thing to do,” said Kennebunk Town Manager Barry Tibbetts.
The group is looking to expand the May Day event in spring as well.
“The parade usually happens downtown and then everybody leaves. We’re building a day,” Rizzo said.
Rizzo said Winterfest will be the first of many annual events the organization hopes to bring to downtown.

Staff Writer Suzanne Hodgson can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 233.