Frosty the Snowman Makes His Way Home to Armonk on Saturday
It’s taken just a few short years for Armonk and a large portion of Westchester County to get caught up in the magic of Frosty the Snowman.
On Saturday, Armonk will welcome the iconic snowman back to his hometown with the annual Frosty Day. Bigger and better than ever, there are festivities and events throughout the downtown from late morning until the evening.
The highlights include the Frosty parade, which kicks off on Main Street at 4:30 p.m. and wends its way through the streets to Wampus Brook Park wehre the Christmas tree lighting will take place at 5 p.m. After the lighting, there will be the Winter Walk, featuring Frosty greeting visitors at Hickory & Tweed on Main Street. Hay rides, pictures with Santa Claus at Hergenhan Recreation Center, singing by the Westchester Chordsmen and the Morris Group Clown Troupe are also part of the walk.
Ed Woodyard, one of the event’s organizers, said no matter a person’s age or background, everyone loves Frosty. It explains why an estimated 1,000 people have come to Armonk from throughout the metropolitan area to be part of the day for the past few years–and it gets bigger all the time.
“The great thing about Frosty is that he’s non-denominational, he’s ecumenical and the only thing he believes in is kids,” Woodyard said.
In 2009, Armonk claimed Frosty the Snowman as its own, after it was learned that the song’s lyricist, Steven Nelson, was a frequent visitor and later a resident of the hamlet. He wrote the lyrics in 1950, a year before he built his new home and moved from White Plains. Gene Autry first recorded the song and it became a holiday classic.
Many of the references in the lyrics were based on what Nelson saw in Armonk, Woodyard said.
Others involved agreed that within Frosty Day has become one of the most enjoyable days on the calendar for the locals.
“The whole town comes out for it,” said Robby Morris, a local businessman and a Friends of Frosty Board member. “Just about every group in town is involved somehow, from the Town of North Castle to the Armonk Chamber of Commerce, from the religious institutions to the schools, from the sports and youth groups to volunteer organizations. It is a great time for everyone to come together and have some fun.”
For Judy Willsey, owner of Framings on Main Street and an event coordinator, said watching everyone have fun is the best part.
“People are supportive of it and it’s such a great time and something that kids love,” she said.
This year the parade is dedicated to longtime North Castle councilwoman Becky Kittredge, who died in August. Woodyard said that while organizers came up with the idea for Frosty Day, it was Kittredge, dubbed Mrs. Frosty, who suggested that the town have a parade.
The event was pushed up a week this year to coincide with Chanukah, Woodyard said. Some of the merchants also wanted to kick off the holiday season during the traditional Thanksgiving weekend, he said.
While the parade doesn’t start until later in the afternoon, visitors don’t have to wait until then to have some fun. Starting at 11 a.m. there will be activities in many of the downtown businesses and the North Castle Public Library.
For more information and the complete listing of activities, visit www.ArmonkFrosty.com.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
