Snow and cold will help Lombard’s Winter Carnival live up to its name

Lombard Park District’s annual Winter Carnival seems to alternate between living up to its name and providing an early opportunity to enjoy springlike conditions.

“Last year was a winter carnival because we had snow on the ground. The year before was muddy and warm,” Matt Fairbanks, program manager, said.

This year, Fairbanks is preparing for a real, wintry Winter Carnival to run from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road.

“It’s kind of a nice ‘get out of your bunker and do something for the weekend’ event because obviously the snow and cold makes us all hibernate a little bit,” Fairbanks said.

The two-hour event includes free indoor and outdoor events such as carnival games, an indoor ornament-making station and ice skating on a frozen basketball court, weather permitting. A highlight for many visitors — the carnival usually draws 400 to 500 people — is a train that runs around the community building’s parking lot.

“Kids love that a lot,” Fairbanks said.

Admission is free. Concessions — including hot chocolate to warm up cold hands — will be for sale, Fairbanks said.

A 30-minute juggling and magic show will conclude the event and lend to its carnival atmosphere. And for those who just can’t get enough cold weather fun, Mother Nature offers at least one more way to put the winter in the Winter Carnival: sledding on a few small hills in Lombard Common park near the community building.

If you go

What: Lombard Park District’s Winter Carnival

When: Noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 22

Where: Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road

Cost: Free admission; concessions for sale

Info: (630) 627-1281 or lombardparks.com