SHERBURNE – The annual Winter Living Celebration takes place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Rogers Environmental Education Center. Five hundred and fifty people came out for last year’s event, and volunteers have been hard at work to ensure this year’s is just as successful. A slew of outdoor and indoor activities have been rigged to keep visitors of all ages diverted and delighted.

“No matter how cold it is, we will be here,” said Rogers Center Director Cara Sefchick. The Rogers Center will be open throughout the event, providing participants with ample opportunity to warm up. Inside, the Susquehanna String Band will being playing live family-friendly music at 12:30, 1:30 and 3 p.m. Sherburne Librarian Candy Hamilton will also be inside, reading childrens’ nature stories to the young ones. While people are indoors, taking advantage of the center’s heat, they can also enjoy fly-tying demonstrations conducted by Trout Unlimited’s Chenango Chapter and various childrens’ crafts. The Sherburne Rotary Club and the Bird Watchers club will be selling an assortment of baked goods, coffee, and lunch inside the Rogers Center.

A winter camping exhibit hosted by a Boy Scout troop will demonstrate how to pitch a tent in winter conditions as well as build a fire in the cold.

“We wanted to make sure there are enough activities for the kids,” said Sefchick.

The sled dogs of Smokey Hill, a team from Warren Center, Pa., will also be in attendance. The Alaskan Husky and seven Siberian Huskies who make up the sled team will demonstrate their sled-pulling skills, while their owners conduct three in-depth presentations.

Horse-drawn sleigh rides will also be available.

“Saturday’s event will be a lot like last year’s because it was so successful,” said Sefchick. She said she feels any event 550 people show up to is one which is enjoyed and beloved by the community. Admission to the Winter Living Celebration is free, but due to the lack of any direct state funding, the Friends of Rogers would like to remind people the center can only remain open with community support. “So bring your dollars,” joked Sefchick.

Snowshoeing and cross-country skiing equipment will also be available to use for free. People can attempt to tackle Rogers Center’s longer six mile trails or they can take it easy and just try out something new. People are also welcome to bring their own equipment if they so choose.

A lot of volunteers have come together to make the Winter Living Celebration a reality. Individuals who live far away come every year to help out for the event and students from SUNY Morrisville also frequently volunteer.

“This is a great opportunity for people looking to get outside to do something during the winter season,” said Sefchick.