Lion dancers leapt in the air and playfully lunged at the crowd during Wu An Martial Arts’ energetic performance on Sunday, January 28, at the New Art Center as part of Newton’s annual WinterFEST.
Sponsored by Newton Community Pride — a “nonprofit organization building community through free arts and culture programming, public art, beautification projects and volunteerism” — the event took place over two days and provided a variety of entertainment.
Tokalli Macehualli, an indigenous dance troupe, performed during WinterFEST. (courtesy photo: Gloria Gavris) 
Craig McConnell, owner of Brockton’s Images in Ice, carves a sculpture of a mama and baby bear, on the Newton Centre green during WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Craig McConnell, owner of Brockton’s Images in Ice, carves a sculpture of a mama and baby bear, on the Newton Centre green during WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Craig McConnell, owner of Brockton’s Images in Ice, created a sculpture of penguins which was on display on the Newton Centre green during WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Craig McConnell, owner of Brockton’s Images in Ice, created a sculpture of a throne that visitors could sit on during WinterFEST on Newton Centre green. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
James, 5, enjoyed a chance to sit in a DPW Bobcat that was parked by the Newton Centre green, during WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Children attending WinterFEST at the Newton Centre green got a chance to decorate a DPW plow. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
From left, Gloria Gavris and Meryl Kessler, co-chairs of Newton Community Pride, pose together in an ice frame during WinterFEST on the Newton Centre green. The sculpture was made by Craig McConnell, owner of Brockton’s Images in Ice. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
Josh & the Jamtones performed at the New Art Center for WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) Clare, 3, and her mother Stephanie posed in the selfie booth at the New Art Center for WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
The characters Olaf and Elsa from “Frozen” appeared during Newton’s WinterFEST celebration at the New Art Center. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) A group from Wu An Martial Arts performed a lion dance at the New Art Center for WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) A group from Wu An Martial Arts performed complex moves during a lion dance at the New Art Center for WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
A group from Wu An Martial Arts performed a lion dance at the New Art Center for WinterFEST. Here, one of the lions rests. (photo: Julie M. Cohen) 
A group from Wu An Martial Arts interacted with the audience during a lion dance at the New Art Center for WinterFEST. (photo: Julie M. Cohen)
The lion dance was supposed to be held on the Newton Centre green but moved inside to the art venue due to bad weather. There, visitors got to take photos at a selfie station, create art, listen to Josh & the Jamtones, see Elsa and Olaf from “Frozen,” and enjoy free cocoa and cookies.
Several other acts braved the constant cold drizzle on Sunday to hold their performances on the green, including a few high school musical groups.
While miserable for some, the weather was fine for Craig McConnell, who usually creates his works of art in an 18-degree freezer. The owner of Brockton-based Images in Ice displayed a few of his handmade sculptures, including a huge selfie frame that was used by many visitors.
“People love ice,” he said after using a chainsaw, chisels and special grinders to form a large mama and baby bear piece.
While listening to music and watching the creation of an ice sculpture, visitors could also participate in a blanket drive to benefit Welcome Home, a Newton-based nonprofit.
Other events in the WinterFEST weekend included the Newton Highlands Soup Social on Saturday and a walk through Cold Spring Park hosted by the Newton Conservators on Sunday morning.
