DERRY — It was a century ago that Derry decided a celebration of winter could bring the community together and offer a lot of frosty fun.
That led to the first Derry Winter Carnival in 1924, with a dance, sports and the crowning of a winter queen.
The community continued that effort Saturday with the annual Frost Festival with both indoor and outdoor activities held in town at locations all along Broadway.
Those planning and hoping for some last-minute snow got their wish as gentle flurries and squalls fell throughout the three-hour afternoon event.
This year’s festival included returning favorites including crafts for children, food and the Ice Breakers, who showed off their chiseling and power saw talents in ice in front of Sabatino’s restaurant.
Children and families were also able to stop by Veterans Hall to create winter-themed crafts, or stop by Java on Broadway to watch balloon artists from Silly Solutions turn balloons into fun shapes.
The crowds came and enjoyed the chilly day.
“We’ve never had it so busy,” said Derry Economic Development Director Beverly Donovan, manning a station on Broadway and offering children fun games to enjoy. “It’s a good reason to enjoy the downtown today.”
Those interested in learning about the town’s past also had the chance to stop by the Derry Museum of History to view many displays and exhibits about the town’s traditions, including how Derry honored its winter seasons, including that very first Winter Carnival started in 1924 and hosted by the Derry Athletic Association.
The museum offered displays and vintage photographs of those early winter events, featuring some daredevil activities like horse racing on ice, ski jumping, skating and even racing cars across an icy body of water.
The crowds came to learn more.
“We’ve had more traffic than ever,” said Paul Lindemann, a member of Derry’s Heritage Commission, which oversees the local history museum in the lower level of Adams Memorial Hall.
Museum volunteers were on hand to explain the exhibits and show off some early Winter Carnival memorabilia, including photographs and a winter queen outfit worn by crowned queen Beryl Woods in 1926.
To win the winter crown, contestants for the top prize in those early years sold buttons to solicit votes, according to Derry town historical records.
“Each contestant and her supporters sold buttons that counted as votes for her,” according to “From Turnpike to Interstate: the 150 Years of Derry, New Hampshire.”
Museum volunteers speculated that Woods somehow won “millions of votes” to earn her the win in 1926.
It was a huge event in town from that first year in 1924 until about 1954, museum volunteers said.
The area’s restaurants are also being highlighted all this month as part of the annual Restaurant Month celebration.
