HAVERHILL — While cold winter weather makes people want to stay at home, the folks in Haverhill want people to come out and “chill” with them, Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., with a series of all-day winter events, as part of the first-ever HaverChill Day, hosted and sponsored by the Haverhill Social Club.

“HaverChill Day was inspired by the Haverhill Days planning committee as a way of raising funds for the annual summertime Haverhill Days, which we brought back last year for the first time in several years,” said coordinator Emily Ewoldt. “We are offering smaller community events throughout the year as a way of accomplishing this.”

Ewoldt said the planning committee had success with last month’s bourbon tasting and hors d’oeuvre event at the Haverhill Social Club, and HaverChill Day is the latest event in the fundraising efforts.

Festivities kick-off with an ice fishing competition, running 8 a.m. to noon, at Illum’s Pond, located at 2208 255th Str. Marshalltown, hosted by the Illums. A $40 entry fee per two-person team is required. Pre-registration is available at Floors & More, or the morning of the event at the pond. For more information, call 641-751-0352. Prizes will be awarded for: total weight in bluegills, biggest crappie, biggest perch and biggest walleye.

The Flannel Dash run/walk, will be up next, with registration starting at 10 a.m. and the run/walk beginning at 10:30 a.m. For an entry fee of one dollar per person, participants of all ages can keep warm and get in a little morning exercise.

“The walk/run starts and ends at the Haverhill Social Club,” Ewoldt said. “It’s just a cute little mile fun run.”

Apple cider will be available afterwards. Participants are encouraged to wear flannel attire. There will be an award for best costume or team attire. Download the pre-registration form (and waiver for those under 18) at the Haverhill Days Facebook page.

Also starting at 10 a.m., the social club’s bar will be serving hot cocoa and Bloody Marys.

From 10:30-11 a.m., the social club will accept crock-pots filled with participants’ finest chili, to be judged by the public later in the afternoon. Folks can enter their chili in these categories: red chili, hottest and most creative. Please label crock-pot to note in which category it should be judged. Entry fee is $20. There will be cash prizes.

“From noon to 3 p.m. there was going to be a snowman building contest, but it doesn’t look like the weather will allow for that,” Ewoldt said.

The chili entries will be sampled from noon to 2 p.m., at a cost of $10 for unlimited sampling, and one ballot for voting.

At 2 p.m., there will be a beard and mustache contest at the social club. Awards will be handed out for: longest beard and best groom job, plus some special surprises. Cost is $5 to enter.

At 2:05 p.m., there will be an award ceremony for the winners of the various contests and events.

“Proceeds from HaverChill Day will go to fund activities for Haverhill Days, and back into the community,” Ewoldt said. “We want the extra money to help out families, the fire station, park, etc. People can donate by making the funds out to the City of Haverhill.”

The planning committee will also host an Easter egg event aimed at adults, at a date to be determined. This year’s Haverhill Days is set for July 29-30. For more information, contact Ewoldt at 641-751-6860.

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Contact Sara Jordan-Heintz at 641-753-6611 or sjordan@timesrepublican.com