Press Releases
02/02/2026
DEEP to Host 20th Annual No Child Left Inside® Winter Festival Feb. 7
Bundle up Your Family and Enjoy a Day of Outdoor Winter Fun!
(HARTFORD, CT) – Winter is a great time to celebrate the outdoors with your friends and family, enjoying the crisp, cold New England weather. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) invites the public to join the free No Child Left Inside® (NCLI) 20th annual Winter Festival at Burr Pond State Park at 384 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington on Saturday February 7, 2026, from 10 am to 3 pm.
Many engaging outdoor winter activities for the entire family to enjoy are planned for the event! Stay connected on CT State Parks social media platforms (CTStateParks) for Winter Festival photos and updates leading up to event day. The Winter Festival is a partnership between CT State Parks No Child Left Inside® and FISH with CARE (Connecticut Aquatic Resources Education) programs along with the City of Torrington.
“Affordability and equitable access to the outdoors are core to our mission,” said DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes. “From free park entry through Passport to the Parks to free events like the Winter Festival, we’re committed to making sure every family can have a fun and safe time in Connecticut State Parks and Forests at any time of the year.”
The annual Winter Festival allows families and those interested in being outdoors during the winter months to embrace the crisp air, fresh snow, and ice. The festival allows for exploring nature in new ways, whether its snowshoeing, ice fishing, building ice sculptures, hiking, or just visiting with the various partners that conduct outdoor winter themed programs; you don’t want to miss this opportunity.
“Winter turns the outdoors into a playground of possibility-bundle up, step out, and let the fun begin,” said Brian Wilson, Director of Connecticut State Parks.
Activities planned for the day, depending on outdoor conditions, include: ice fishing; a bonfire; outdoor play; marshmallow roasting; winter hikes; visits from Resources in Search and Rescue as well as CT Valley Siberian Husky Club; CT DEEP Environmental Conservation Police; Chuckles the Groundhog (mascot from Lutz Children’s Museum in Manchester), Torrington Police and Fire; and many more. DEEP’s Fish with CARE staff and volunteer fishing coaches will be on hand to demonstrate and teach ice fishing techniques. Participants will have the opportunity to borrow a tip-up and/or jigging rod and try ice fishing with expert help from Fish with CARE coaches! Ice fishing will only take place pending safe ice conditions – an announcement on ice conditions will be made by Wednesday February 4, 2026, on DEEP social media platforms. Dress for the cold weather, wear sturdy insulated winter boots and bring a sense of adventure.
CT Boy Scout Troop 1 will be selling food at the event (cash only). Dudes Donuts will also be in attendance selling donuts and warm apple cider.
Limited on-site parking is available at Burr Pond State Park and at the Burr Pond Boat Launch Ramp. Additional off-site parking is available during the event at the nearby Burrville Fire Training School located at 606 Burr Mountain Road, Torrington and at RBC Bearings Aircraft Products Inc. located at 2788 Winsted Road, Torrington. Shuttles run between the event and these parking locations throughout the day during event hours. Please note that the last shuttle leaves Burr Pond for the off-site parking areas at 3:00 pm.
Please note: DEEP reminds those venturing outdoors that safety comes first. Ice thickness varies on all water bodies due to several environmental factors including in-water circulatory patterns, snow cover and the types and amounts of recent precipitation. Please stay within the program area on the ice and do not venture onto other areas on the pond as there may not be sufficient ice thickness. Visit DEEP’s Ice safety page and the CARE ice fishing page to learn more about ice safety.
Inclement Weather: In the event of inclement weather on Feb. 7, this event will be held on Sunday, Feb. 8.
Keeping Warm Outdoors During the Winter
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has some valuable tips on how to keep children safe and warm on a cold winter day.
- Dress infants and children warmly for outdoor activities. Several thin layers will keep them dry and warm. Remember warm boots, gloves, or mittens, and a hat. Layering is a good idea as are moisture-wicking fabrics and clothing that’s geared to the sport.
- The rule of thumb for older babies and young children is to dress them in one more layer of clothing than an adult would wear in the same conditions.
- The sun’s rays can still cause sunburn in the winter, especially when they reflect off snow. Make sure to cover your child’s exposed skin with sunscreen.
Visit No Child Left Inside® for year-round programmatic information as well as the CT State Parks Calendar of Events for more event listings. For directions to Burr Pond State Park: Burr Pond State Park | Connecticut State Parks and Forests
About CT State Parks: Established in 1913, the mission of the Connecticut State Park System is to provide natural resource-based public recreational and educational opportunities through a system of state park and forest recreation areas, environmental centers, and nature centers that provide an understanding of, access to, and enjoyment of, the state’s historic, cultural and natural resources. Connecticut has 110 state parks and 32 state forests attracting around 17 million visitors each year, generating over $1 billion in economic activity for the state and supporting 9,000 private sector jobs. Those driving Connecticut registered motor vehicles are provided free entrance to the parks thanks to the Passport to the Parks program. For more information on Connecticut State Parks visit: Connecticut State Parks and Forests (ctparks.com).
Photos from the 2025 Winter Festival. Credit: CT DEEP
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Contact
DEEP Communications
DEEP.communications@ct.gov
860-424-3110