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Are We There Yet?: Big Games & Family Fun
It's Super Bowl Sunday weekend.
(Wait: Am I allowed to say that? I just read that the NFL won't let companies say "Super Bowl" unless they pay for it, explaining why all the Price Chopper and WalMart ads on TV say "the big game."
I think the media is exempt from the NFL copyright police ... for now!)
While I hated seeing Peyton Manning beat my beloved Tom Brady in the AFC Championship game, I have to admit I enjoy the game more when the Patriots are NOT playing in it. Too stressful. This Sunday, I can sit back and root for the Seattle Seahawks to pound Peyton into that cold, hard New Jersey turf. Hey, I can dream.
But besides the game, there's another Super Bowl tradition in Northern Berkshire County: the Williamstown Youth Center's annual family extravaganza known as Snowfest.
A few years ago they moved the date from early January to coincide with the big game also known as the Super Bowl, offering families a fun, active afternoon that benefits the youth center's programs and scholarships.
Never been to Snowfest? You are in for a treat: Activities include ice skating in the rink (rentals cost a couple bucks), Wii games, caricature artists, an inflatable obstacle course, pickup sports games facilitated by Williams College athletic teams, photo arts and crafts, and more. New activities this year include a soccer exhibition and clinic hosted by semiprofessional soccer players from Vermont Voltage, and winter Olympic events to get you into the mood for the upcoming Sochi games.
Of course, I have found that the kids just enjoy running around in an indoor, contained space!
The cost is $35 per family or $5 per student. Scholarship assistance is available. Families can register online at williamstownyouthcenter.org or at the door the day of the event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. (plenty of time to get home for the big game also known as the Super Bowl) at the Williams College field house and skating rink in Williamstown.
Can't wait for Sunday to give the kids something active to do? Saturday, Feb. 1, is Kids Day Out at Berkshire South Regional Community Center in Great Barrington. Parents of kids ages 2 to 12 can drop them off between 9:30 and 12:30 for a morning of swimming, games, and the all important gym (or outside, depending on the weather) time.
The cost is $15 for members and $17 for nonmembers and includes a snack; registration is requested at least 48 hours in advance at 4135282810, so hop to it!
One more Saturday event to mention: Berkshire Community College will host its second annual Wellness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event, which is open to individuals of all ages and abilities, will be held at BCC's Paterson Field House, located at 1350 West St. in Pittsfield, and will feature free educational booths as well as exercise classes and chair massages ($4 per half-hour exercise class or 10 minute chair massage). Exercise classes will include Zumba, Pilates, aikido, selfdefense, creative dance and yoga.
Proceeds will benefit Empower SCI, a nonprofit corporation that serves the needs of individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Entry to the event is free; however, donations will be accepted. For more information, visit berkshirecc.edu.
I know this cold weather has caused the kids to have a lot of pent-up energy. Hopefully these ideas will give you ways to get them to let off steam and stop jumping on the couch already — especially during the big game also known as the Super Bowl.
Berkshire County native Rebecca Dravis of Williamstown is a former journalist who now works for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. She can be reached at rdravis@verizon.net.
