The llama-led Ice Jewel Hunt is one of the favorite activities of the day – this year taking place at 11 a.m. Llamas “Kate” and “Niki” are provided by Michael Prange. Andy Gagne photo

BETHEL — The celebration kicks off on Feb. 15 at Valentine Farm: there may not be much snow on the ground this year, but in just over a week, the Mahoosuc Land Trust will host its annual Winterfest celebration at Valentine Farm in Bethel.

The morning llama walk with “Kate” and “Niki” is one of the most popular activities of the day. Kids can interact with the llamas and take turns holding their lead on the trail walk. The trail walk is not just for kids, says Barbara Murphy, director of the Habitat for All Garden at Valentine Farm: “I’m always surprised by the number of adults who are thrilled to be walking alongside the llamas and petting them.”

Also on the Winterfest schedule is a guided bird walk, led by Alex and Katy Carr, co-owners Alex Carr, founder of Bethel Adventure Tours, who will be talking about the wintertime behaviors of crows, ravens, and jays.

Despite a shortfall of snow this year, organizers are currently making a herculean effort to collect snow locally to make a small sledding hill for visitors. There will also be plenty of non-snow-dependent activities, including blowing frozen soap bubbles and making pine cone bird feeders to help feathered friends make it through the winter. And visitors can warm up beside a campfire and enjoy cocoa and cookies, available all day.

“Every year brings surprises,” says Murphy: “Last year we loved meeting a man from Somalia who had never been sledding before. Another year we had so much snow we had to do last-minute emergency shoveling. This year, we clearly have too little snow. But no matter the weather, we will be celebrating the spirit of wintertime in Bethel.”

Murphy says the event offers an important, free alternative for local residents and visitors who want to be outside but don’t necessarily want to spend the day skiing. For the upcoming Winterfest event, there are also activities taking place all week around Bethel, including a family scavenger hunt at Carter’s XC Ski Center, skating at the Philbrook outdoor rink, and snowshoeing and fat biking via the Winter Trails Center at the Bethel Inn. “The event is a real partnership between many organizations in and around Bethel that make this spot a beautiful place to live and visit,” says Laurie Winsor, lead planner for the Winterfest event.

Winterfest is one of three major events sponsored by the Mahoosuc Land Trust every year – the largest of which is the Monarch Festival in August. The summertime festival includes local crafts, food, and educational talks, and is meant to inspire visitors to build “pollinator pathways” in their own yards to support monarchs, birds, and a wide range of other Maine pollinators.

The Monarch Festival takes place in and around the Habitat for All Garden at Valentine Farm – a small botanical garden devoted to educating visitors about the importance of backyard gardens for pollinators.

Residents and visitors can sign up to receive information about all upcoming events via the Mahoosuc Land Trust newsletter at https://www.mahoosuc.org/monarch-festival.