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Winter Festival ‘Above & Beyond’ Expectations

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Hoxsie Elementary Principal Gary McCombs, Lilian Marchetti, and Juliana Graceau at the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Hoxsie Elementary Principal Gary McCombs, Lilian Marchetti, and Juliana Graceau at the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Hoxsie Elementary Principal Gary McCombs, Lilian Marchetti, and Juliana Graceau at the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The end of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The end of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
WARWICK, RI —  Fair weather, families, businesses and a wide variety of food, music and activities and a parade greeted patrons of the city’s inaugural Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival, a good augur for an event Mayor Frank Picozzi said he hopes will be an annual event.

“The Strolling Rolling Winter Festival went above and  beyond our expectations. I can’t thank the planning committee, countless volunteers and city employees enough who all made this happen,” Picozzi said early this week.

Prior to the event, all signs pointed to success, with streets circling the City Hall blocks cordoned off, the parade participants in position on Veterans Memorial Parkway, food trucks, a heated picnic table food court and tables of craft and local services vendors spread between the points. Inside the Apponaug Branch Warwick Public Library, crafts were being led by Apponaug Branch Supervisor Diane Iacono, and Directors Ellen-O’Brien and Aaron Coutu-Jones greeted visitors at the door. Crafts were also underway next door at the Warwick Center for the Arts.

 Across the street, inside the Central RI Chamber of Commerce headquarters, kids and parents lined up for a brief audience and photo with Santa and Mrs. Clause, who brought up the rear of the parade once it had navigated Apponaug’s eastern-most roundabouts before ending on Post Road in front of City Hall, where the bulk of the crowd had packed both stretches of sidewalk.

“We’re excited to have a family-friendly, festive event,” said Sue Baker, business development planner/coordinator with the tourism department, .who co-led the funding and organization of the event with Elizabeth Dunton, Warwick’s acting director of tourism.

The city and the (event) committee, the whole team, have really done an amazing job,” said Central RI Chamber of Commerce Director Lauren Slocum as the day got started.

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] From left, Beverly Hall, administrator at the Warwick Sewer Authority and Central RI Chamber Director Lauren Slocum at the Apponaug Winter Festival Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] From left, Beverly Hall, administrator at the Warwick Sewer Authority and Central RI Chamber Director Lauren Slocum at the Festival Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Peter and Linda DeVincent walk their dogs, Gina and Luna, at the Apponaug Winter Festival Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Peter and Linda DeVincent walk their dogs, Gina and Luna, in Apponaug Dec. 9 for the parade.
 

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9, members of the Pilgrim High School Lifesaver EMT CMT program: Haylee Marcotte, Destinee Frias, Carolyn Gayman, Alyssa Trudell, Ian Machado, Julie Maloy, RN, and Lisa Tamburini.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug festival parade Dec. 9, members of the Pilgrim High School Lifesaver EMT CMT program: Haylee Marcotte, Destinee Frias, Carolyn Gayman, Alyssa Trudell, Ian Machado, Julie Maloy, RN, and Lisa Tamburini.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9, John Adams and Lt. James Papson wait for their turn on Veterans Memorial Highway.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9, Shriners John Adams and Lt. James Papson wait for their turn on Veterans Memorial Highway.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival goers grab some hot drinks before the parade begins.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival goers grab some hot drinks before the parade begins.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival, Erin Mignosa and Everly, 2, and Jess Dickie and Bobby, 1, enjoy some quiet time near the food court. "He just turned one on Sunday," Dickie said of Bobby.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival, Erin Mignosa and Everly, 2, and Jess Dickie and Bobby, 1, enjoy some quiet time near the food court. “He just turned one on Sunday,” Dickie said of Bobby.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Shirlee Allenson had a good spot on Post Road to watch the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Shirlee Allenson had a good spot on Post Road to watch the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Renee Sullivan and Owen, 2, having fun on Post Road watching the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Renee Sullivan and Owen, 2, having fun on Post Road watching the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
 
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9, members of the Apponaug Babe Ruth League.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] At the start of the Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9, members of the Apponaug Babe Ruth League.

 

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The Carolyn Dutra Dancers in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] The Carolyn Dutra Dancers in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Warwick Firefighters in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Warwick Firefighters in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Warwick Police in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
 

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Providence mounted police in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Providence mounted police in The Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Shaun Galligan - Vice Chairman, School Committee, his son, Chase, and Lauren Slocum, Central RI Chamber Director watch the Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Shaun Galligan – Vice Chairman, School Committee, his son, Chase, and Lauren Slocum, Central RI Chamber Director watch the Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival parade Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] It was balmy weather so the snow was pretend at the Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] It was balmy weather so the snow was pretend at the Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Kristina Petrilli, co-owner Shirley Mediciof Faith & Grace Design Studios was set up inside City Hall at the Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival Dec. 9.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Kristina Petrilli, co-owner with Shirley Medici of Faith & Grace Design Studios was set up inside City Hall at the Rolling, Strolling Apponaug Winter Festival Dec. 9.
Inside the Apponaug Branch Warwick Public Library,Warwick Public Library Directors Ellen-O'Brien and Aaron Coutu-Jones greeted visitors at the door during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Inside the Apponaug Branch Warwick Public Library,Warwick Public Library Directors Ellen-O’Brien and Aaron Coutu-Jones greeted visitors at the door during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Inside the Apponaug Branch Warwick Public Library, Apponaug Branch Supervisor Diane Iacono was leading arts and crafts during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Inside the Apponaug Branch Warwick Public Library, Apponaug Branch Supervisor Diane Iacono was leading arts and crafts during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
 

[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Inside the Warwick Center for the Arts, Mollie Daniels and Deborah Silvano were leading arts and crafts during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Inside the Warwick Center for the Arts, Mollie Daniels and Deborah Silvano were leading arts and crafts during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] From left, Allison Harris, Teri Brunette and Karen Whitfield of Restorative Wellness were talking about their new spa during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] A happy James Haas exits his meeting with Santa during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] A happy James Haas exits his meeting with Santa during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
 
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Lynn and Arbrianna Maymon get ready for their carraige ride with during the Apponaug Winter Festival.
[CREDIT: Rob Borkowski] Lynn and Arbrianna Maymon get ready for their carraige ride with
during the Apponaug festival Dec. 9.
Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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