Archive: Around Town

The weak economy failed to slow Ithaca’s Winter Recess teachers fest which grew by 70% this year to attract a record 4,300 attendees.

The weeklong event, Feb. 13-22, honored preK-12 educators and district employees with special events throughout the community and discount deals at dozens of area businesses. The 2009 program included 102 events, with activities and deals at 190 Ithaca-area locations.

Roughly 55 percent of attendees are Tompkins County residents. Out-of-county attendees came from all parts of New York, 13 outlying states and Canada.

Participants took in a variety of activities including spa parties, wine touring, college events, dining and more. Maxie’s Supper Club, the Sciencenter, Museum of the Earth, Johnson Museum and the downtown Commons were among the most popular destinations for teachers and their families.

Area hotels and B&Bs hosted more than 600 visiting educators and family members during the week, a 20% increase from 2008. The growth stands in contrast to the broader hospitality industry which is reporting double-digit declines in occupancy for the year.

“Winter Recess is all about value, and that really resonates right now,” said Fred Bonn, director of the Ithaca/Tompkins Convention & Visitors Bureau, the event coordinator. “Businesses and event organizers really embraced that message. The scale of the festival, the quality, the variety of deals—it really caught people’s attention. It’s a tribute to the Ithaca community that Winter Recess is so successful.”

Teachers week has grown annually since its inception in 2007. In its first year, the event attracted 1,300 people. In 2008 attendance surpassed 2,500.

“We knew 2009 was going to be big within the first few days of registration,” Bonn said. “We surpassed 2007 on our opening day, beat 2008 within the first weekend and matched the previous two years combined a day later. We’re thrilled at the response from teachers, the incredible support from local businesses and the positive impact this had on the overall community. This event really celebrates what the Ithaca is all about. It’s a winner on every level.”

Winter Recess remains the nation’s only community-wide festival celebrating classroom educators. It’s held annually during the President’s Week school break. The 2010 event begins Feb. 12.

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