KINGFIELD — The Recreation Department will host its first Winter Carnival this weekend, no matter what Mother Nature brings.

Event planners have been stymied by unpredictable weather conditions, according to Recreation Department board member Allison Royall. A Winter Carnival without the white stuff would have been a challenge, she said.

“We decided to cancel the plan to have a snow sculpture contest because we didn’t have any snow,” she said.

But snow arrived Thursday, and the weekend will include plenty of ways to enjoy it. Most activities will take place at Webster Hall. Friday events include a scavenger hunt, starting at 3 p.m. and ending at 3 p.m. Saturday.

Also on Friday, fun for kids will include crafts, games, ice skating and snacks from 3 to 5 p.m. To complement the town’s First Friday Artwalk, children can enter a photo, coloring and drawing contest.

The festival committee will host a bake sale. Event organizer and board Chairwoman Sarah Churchill said Kingfield POPS-sponsored entertainer Mark Phillips will perform from 5 to 8 p.m. A music teacher in SAD 58 and RSU 9, Phillips’ repertoire ranges from swing jazz to British folk-rock.

Turkey bowling will begin at 6 p. m. at the skating rink behind Webster Hall. The audience can enjoy the competition and stay warm beside the bonfire until 9 p.m.

Saturday events will begin at 9 a.m. with sledding at Gilmore’s Hill Field on Route 27. A snowshoe and cross-country ski race will begin at 10:30 a. m. Coffee, hot chocolate and cookies will be provided by the Kingfield Fire Department. From 9 to 11 a.m., Kenrick Charles will drive his horse-drawn wagon shuttle from Webster Hall to the fields and back. The next event is a snowshoe relay race at Webster Hall at 11 a.m., Royall said.

“We’ll have three age groups, and parents can be their child’s teammate,” she said. “One group will be for children up to age 6, and the next will be to age 12, with a third group to age 18.”

A chili/chowder/soup cook-off will start at 11 a.m. at Webster Hall, with one winner chosen by popular vote in each category. From 1 to 3 p.m., the fun will continue inside, with children’s face painting, sack races and other activities. Others can enjoy skating at the new rink outside. Carnival volunteers will host an awards ceremony at 5 p.m., and a Kingfield POPS representative will draw a winning ticket for a sled raffle.

Raffle tickets will be available at area businesses and from Recreation Committee members until the drawing, Churchill said.

The evening will end with a silent auction and a family-friendly dance from 5 to 9 p.m., with music provided by DJ comedian Greg Siekman. For more information, contact Churchill at 441-5183.