NEWBERRY — Even the chill of the winter wind can’t keep Newberrians from having fun. Check out this list of some favorite things to do this season.

1. Free family entertainment

The City of Newberry Parks, Recreation, and Tourism office will host free Family Movie Nights on Jan. 6, Feb. 10 and March 10, all beginning at 7 p.m. All three family friendly movies will be shown at the Newberry Opera House.

The first feature in January will be The Secret Life of Pets, released in the summer of 2016. The February feature will be Disney’s Queen of Katwe, and the March feature will be announced soon. Seating is first come, first served. Free popcorn will be available in the lobby from 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Contact the Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department at 803-321- 1015 or visit www.cityofnewberry.com/events for more information.

2. Newberry Arts Center classes

The Newberry Arts Center has plenty of classes for adults, teens, and children this winter. Many classes will begin the week of Jan. 9 and will continue through February and March. Watercolor, oil painting, and pottery for adults of all levels also is being offered again as Saturday Watercolor Workshops for adults looking to expand their knowledge of watercolor.

Afterschool Art for Kids and Teens will resume Jan. 17. Classes will give children and teens the opportunity to learn the basics and intricacies of pottery making, painting, printmaking, sculpture, drawing, and other forms of art.

Super Saturday Watercolor Workshops for teens will be offered on the first weekend of January, February and March. Finally, the Arts Center will host its popular painting and pottery parties for adults throughout the winter season.

Visit www.newberryartscenter.com or call the City Parks, Recreation, and Tourism office at 803-321-1015 for details.

3. March on Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Community members annually gather at Bethlehem Baptist Church on College Street and march to Caldwell Street’s Miller Chapel AME in celebration of the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Service Day begins with a program at Bethlehem Baptist Church, which in the past has included speakers and singing. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is on Jan. 16.

4. Newberry Ballet Guild’s Jewel of the Stars

The Newberry Ballet Guild will present its annual winter ballet performance at the Newberry Opera House on Feb. 3 and Feb. 4. This year’s production is an original story created by the Guild and performed by local dance students.

The show, “Jewel of the Stars,” portrays a daring young adventurer who joins a fallen star. They set out on an otherworldly adventure in search of the unknown. Visit www.newberryoperahouse.com for tickets, times and details.

5. Healthy Chili Cook-Off

The fourth annual Healthy Chili Cook-Off will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Feb. 4 in Memorial Park in Downtown Newberry.

Anyone with a great chili recipe is welcome to compete. Teams are encouraged to create a team name and theme for their chili and to decorate their table space.

Entry is free but spaces are limited to the first 10 entrants. Winners will be chosen by People’s Choice and for a small donation to the Souper Bowl of Caring, the tasting public will receive samples from each team and three different voting tickets, significant to the three judging categories.

Applications and rules can be found at www.cityofnewberry.com/events/event/268-healthy-chili-cook-off or by stopping by the City of Newberry Parks, Recreation, and Tourism office at 1323 College St. Funds raised will go to Manna House of Newberry via the Souper Bowl of Caring.

The deadline to enter is Jan. 27. Contact Newberry Parks, Recreation and Tourism at 803-321-1015 for more information.

6. Visit downtown with your Valentine

You can get everything you need for your valentine in downtown Newberry. Consider visiting Elizabeth’s on Main for a new dress, or Out on a Whim for a brand name purse. Jewelry and flowers are always a staple of Valentine giving and Blackmon’s Jewelry and Woolbright’s Flowers have you covered.

Looking for something more personal? Visit The Gallery or Michelle’s for something one-of-a-kind or Making it Personal for a monogrammed gift. Looking for a gentleman? The Gentlemen’s Corner has men’s clothes plus downtown Newberry has an abundance of antique shops with gifts for those who cherish history.

7. S.C. Clay Conference

The third annual S.C. Clay Conference is coming up in February and with it comes the S.. Clay Conference Pottery Sale, one of the largest handmade pottery sales featuring work by professional and amateur clay artists from across the southeast.

The sale will also feature South Carolina Clay Conference presenters Tom and Elaine Coleman of Henderson, Nev.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 24 and Feb. 25 at the Newberry Arts Center, 1200 Main St. in Newberry. Call 803-321-1015 for more information.

8. Wintertime walk in the Woods

Why not take a wintertime walk in Lynch’s Woods? Lynch’s Woods is often considered Newberry County’s best kept secret by hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking enthusiasts.

Created by the 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps, Lynch’s Woods Park protects 276 acres of forest filled with old-growth hardwoods, creek beds and tributaries, and local wildlife. The state’s Palmetto Trail Project shares three moderate hiking miles of the six-mile equestrian trail around the park and the park has 7.5 miles of mountain biking.

9. Newberry College Jazz Festival

The annual Newberry College Jazz Festival returns to celebrate its 60th year running on March 4 in Wiles Chapel. This jazz festival, one of the oldest in the nation, is held in conjunction with the South Carolina Band Directors Association.

Performances are free and open to the public. The Newberry College Jazz Big Band will perform at 1 p.m. as will two high school All-State Jazz Bands.

10. Irish Fling

St. Patrick’s Day (March 17) is the annual Irish Fling in downtown Newberry. Visitors can enjoy Irish food, drink specials and live entertainment in restaurants and bars while experiencing Downtown.

The Chamber’s red event tent with flashing green lights will be in Astwood Park, 1318 Main St., for “over 21” wristbands, souvenirs and a chance to enter a “wearing green” raffle.

Alcohol will be allowed outside in Downtown from 5 p.m. to midnight and in special to-go event cups provided by participating restaurants and bars.

Many retail shops are participating in a family friendly Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt in which families will be tasked with finding leprechauns, collecting their names and turning them in at the event tent to enter to win gift certificates or prizes from downtown shops.

Call the Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Office at 803-321-1015 or visit www.newberryirishfling.com for more information.

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By Mary Alex Kopp

For The Newberry Observer

Mary Alex Kopp is the tourism and events coordinator for the City of Newberry.