Let's Wine About Winter recap

February 2023 marked the return of Let's Wine About Winter and it made its return in spectacular fashion. Anne Postle, event founder and co-organizer, said more than 500 people attended the event on Feb. 11 and approximately $13,000 was raised that will go towards maintaining the Niwot Children's Park and Whistle Stop Park.

"This was our most successful Wine About Winter to date," Postle said. "The beautiful weather and the event's hiatus for two years certainly helped add to the excitement." Although the entire event was festive, she said she thought the photo booth at Niwot Natural Medicine and the puppies at Blessings Day Spa were both highlights.

For the first time, volunteers were utilized for the check-in process with most volunteers recruited through the Niwot Community Connection group. Volunteer Joyce Johnson said the event provided a great volunteer experience. "It was a lot of fun," she said. "I met some really interesting people. And I'm all signed up to do it again next year."

Niwot businesses also enjoyed the day and the number of people coming through their doors. This was the first year The Wandering Jellyfish Bookstore had participated, and co-founder Jerilyn Patterson was thrilled. "We had so much fun," she said. "We had so many people in the store that we had never seen before." The shop provided wine for adult participants and sparkling cider for the kids. Author-illustrator Kaz Windness was even set up outside to paint with participants.

Carrie Wise, co-owner of Wise Buys Antiques with her husband Tim Wise, said it was their best Wine About Winter event yet. "We were busy the whole time," Wise said. "Both Tim and I were busy writing up receipts for the first time ever."

Eric Bergeson, owner of Niwot Wheel Works and The Wheelhouse and president of the Niwot Business Association said, "The numbers were incredible. There was a constant flow of people all afternoon. And we had a really nice crowd here after the event was over."

As with The Wandering Jellyfish, Bergeson felt the event gave his businesses lots of exposure. He said, "We had a lot of people here who had never been in before." Both Bergeson and Wise said that one of the things that stood out to them is that everyone was in such a good mood. "It really was tremendous," Bergeson said.

Event participant Sheryl Allen of Boulder said, "It's the most fun I've had in Colorado since I moved here two years ago." Let's Wine About Winter takes place every year in February and is managed by the Niwot Cultural Arts Association (NCAA) with financial assistance from the Niwot Local Improvement District.