Friday: Silent auction to support Waterbury Winterfest

December 8, 2025  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

File photo by Gordon Miller

A silent auction this Friday at Cask & Cork on Elm Street will kick off Waterbury Winterfest 2026. 

The annual multi-day winter recreation celebration holds a Sip & Shop silent auction fundraiser each December ahead of Winterfest. The auction will take place from 4 to 6:30 p.m. during the Elm Street beer and wine shop’s Friday tasting. 

The fundraiser features donated items from local shops, restaurants and other businesses in time for holiday gift-giving. Auction items include merchandise as well as gift cards for goods and services. Funds raised from the silent auction and sponsorships help cover the costs of Winterfest event logistics and promotion. 

“The silent auction is an opportunity for Waterbury Winterfest to engage with the community ahead of our annual weekend in 2026,” explained Winterfest planning team member Katarina Lisaius. “Being new to the board, it is clear that engagement is different for every neighbor and being a part of Waterbury is at the forefront.”

Winterfest will be held from Wednesday, Jan. 28, through Sunday, Feb. 1. Proceeds from Winterfest events afterward are shared with community recreation organizations and projects through grants and volunteer support. 

The 2026 Winterfest schedule stretches across five days with a variety of outdoor and indoor events planned and hosted by volunteers and members of local recreation-focused organizations such as Waterbury Youth Soccer, Green Mountain Performing Arts, and the Brookside Primary School PTO. 

Visit the WaterburyWinterfest.com for more information about the silent auction, Winterfest planning, and ways to volunteer. Some events for the Winterfest schedule are already posted there such as wassailing, a block party, winter bocce, an ice skating disco, a beer quiz and the annual snowshoe/ski from Blush Hill to Little River. More events will be added over the coming weeks.