Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Thompson said she is not a snow fan, except at Winterfest Feb. 2 and 3. The department has planned new and returning events indoors and out to make the festival work with or without a layer of white, but snow would add to the fun, so she is hoping for it, Thompson said Friday.

Either way, she expects the large number of organizations involved and the activities they and the department are offering, mostly for free, will help draw a large turnout. All the promoting she is doing in and near the Midcoast could help make it a regional event, she added.

“We’re going to try to provide something for everyone. My goal is that we have a wide variety of outdoor and indoor fun that gets people out of the house and gets them active, and having fun here at our community center.”

Going into her first Wiscasset Winterfest since she started as director last summer, Thompson noted she brings to the festival her five years’ experience coordinating South Portland’s winter festival when she was the city’s recreation manager.

One new feature this year is the Wiscasset Fire Department’s pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m Saturday, Feb. 3.  Fire Chief T.J. Merry said Sunday, the breakfast will benefit the department’s training program. The cost is $7 a person; children 5 and under are free. He said when Thompson asked the department if it would put on the breakfast, “We gladly accepted,” as a help to the community event and the chance to raise funds. “That’s very important, especially as budgets are being tightened,” he said.

Firefighters will make and serve the pancakes to attendees, Merry said. He said members had not made the grocery list yet for the pancakes. “But I can assure you, they will be tasty. We might even pick up some chocolate chips for the kids.”

Another addition to Winterfest, family trivia night from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, should be a lot of fun, in part due to host Bill Adams, Thompson said. The deejay is experienced in trivia events; and his audience interactions, music and other elements help people have a good time as they answer the questions, she said. The cost is $3 a person or $10 for a family of four or more.

Free events on Saturday, Feb. 3 include making bird feeders and homemade ice cream with Morris Farm from 10 a.m. to noon in the center’s lobby; horse carriage rides from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; an ice-carving demonstration by SubZero Ice Carvings from 11 a.m. to noon; outside play with Chewonki Foundation, featuring a wall tent from noon to 3 p.m. and Quinzee building from 1 to 4 p.m.; snowmobile rides with Wiscasset Sno-Goers from 1 to 4 p.m.; Chewonki’s live animal presentation “Fur, feathers & feet” in the Senior Center from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.; cross country skiing and snowshoeing with Midcoast Conservancy from 1 to 4 p.m.; a pool party with “Chuck a duck” and other water games from 1 to 2:30 p.m.; laser tag with Monkey C Monkey Do from 2 to 4 p.m.; the bonfire at 6:45 p.m.; fireworks at 7 p.m.; and a movie night showing of “Despicable Me 3” in the gym from 7:30 to 9 p.m.

Donations will be accepted at a spaghetti dinner to benefit the Cooper-DiPerri Scholarship Fund, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3. The fund helps children and adults with financial needs take part in recreation programs, Thompson said, adding, applying for a scholarship is confidential.

The center will sell lunch items including chili with baked potatoes, bowls of chili, chili dogs, pizza and more from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

For more information or to volunteer at Winterfest, call 882-8230.