PHOTO GALLERY: Cool new resident takes up residence at St. Stephen's Plaza

The full annual Winter Walkabout is on hiatus until 2022, but a scaled-back version of the celebration launched on Tuesday and will last throughout the month. 

The event, traditionally held the first weekend of February to highlight local musicians at traditional and non-traditional venues, has pivoted to still provide a chance to listen to local talent and support local businesses.

“We might not be able to host the 2021 Winter Walkabout Music Showcase as it has been in previous years, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t emphasize the incredible amount of talented musicians we’re lucky to have in the Longmont area, and also drive support to those artists and our past Walkabout venues who have had such a tough year,” Colin Argys, Winter Walkabout co-founder and events and marketing specialist for the Longmont Downtown Development Authority, stated in a news release. “The community spirit surrounding the event has been incredible the past two years, so we wanted to still keep that spirit and provide some fun things for folks to do in the (Longmont) Creative District.”

From 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily through Feb. 28 music will by local artists will be broadcast at St. Stephen’s Plaza, where a cool special guest took up residence on Tuesday —  a 1,200-pound groundhog ice sculpture carved by Jess Parish of Cool Hand Ice.

The chill critter will remain until it melts and visitors to the plaza can take a selfie with the groundhog sculpture and post it on social media with the hashtag #WWMS2021 to be entered to win two tickets to next year’s Winter Walkabout.  

The LDDA and sponsor TBK Bank are hoping to continue to support local musicians and keep the spirit of the Walkabout alive. Starting Saturday, people can make donations to support local musicians and receive some schwag in return. Depending on the amount given, donors to the fund to benefit local artists will receive a commemorative groundhog button, a CD from one of this year’s artists or a 2021 Winter Walkabout T-shirt and a discount on 2022 tickets. All donors also will be entered in a drawing to win four tickets to the 2022 Winter Walkabout. 

Learn more here.