Mount Vernon winter festival prevails, despite a lack of snow

Mount Vernon had everything it needed for today's Cabin Fever Winter Festival – except snow.

Temperatures in the 50s this week melted much of the snow in the area, putting a damper on the planned festivities.

"So we did the next best thing," Joe Jennison of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. "We had a snow festival without snow."

Instead of traditional snowbound activities, competitors made snowmen out of toilette paper, chugged cups of hot chocolate, and put markers to paper for makeshift snow angels inside the Cornell College student commons.

The event was hosted by the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development group as a way to bring together area residents and Cornell College students. The event was staffed by a crew of students and drew at least a handful of five-person teams. Despite temperatures above freezing, a clear blue sky, and a measly amount of snow, organizers said the event was a worthwhile.

Jennison said he was especially pleased to see a family of five with their 2-year-old child compete against a troop of Cornell undergrads.

“It was meant to be and it was successful. We integrated Cornell College students with the community, which was the goal from the beginning,” Jennison said, sporting his powder blue Cabin Fever t-shirt.

Saturday's event was the development group's first ever Cabin Fever Winter Festival, but Jennison said he hopes to put together similar events in the future.