Winter Carnival Season: Tons of Fun in the Snow
There is no other activity more synonymous with winter fun than a traditional winter carnival – and the this region has plenty to discover this February and March.
Whether you are headed to Parry Sound, South Algonquin, Muskoka or the Almaguin Highlands this winter, you are pretty much guaranteed to find a fun-filled winter carnival in a charming community. Here’s a few you will definitely want to check out:
Huntsville’s Eclipse Walk With Light open through March 18
If you didn’t get the chance to join Huntsville’s Eclipse Walk With Light before Christmas, don’t worry! The interactive sound-to-light forest night walk at the Rotary Village Station inside Muskoka Heritage Place (100 Forbes Hill Drive) continues until March 18th.
Almost every Friday and Saturday evening includes live entertainment, sandwiches and doughnuts from Fox in the Henhouse, and beverages (including hot, cold, alcoholic and non) from Canvas Brewing Co.
Eclipse “Walk with Light” is created in collaboration with Limbic Media.
Port Carling Winterfest February 3-5
Port Carling Winterfest is a fun-filled weekend for the whole family.
The festivities begin with a wonderful show put on by the local skating club on Friday evening and end with the Polar Bear Dip on Sunday.
Saturday is filled with games for the kids, a performance by Jam Sandwich, face painting, an outdoor skating trail at Hanna Park, a log sawing competition, a chance to try curling, yummy food and much more. Adults $5 and children 12 and under free. It takes place at the Port Carling Community Centre, the Port Carling Legion, and Hanna Park.
Get event updates on Facebook or at the Port Carling Winterfest website.
South River Winterfest February 7-11
Head to South River in the Almaguin Highlands from February 7-11 for tons of family fun this season with their jam packed schedule of Winterfest events. Taking place at a number of locations through town – including South River Brewing Co., New Adventures in Sound Art, and Tom Thomson Park to name a few – join in for trivia night, the Machar Agricultural Society craft sale, family games, live entertainment, food and much more. For a complete schedule of events click here.
Britt Winter Carnival February 15-20
The 55th Annual Britt & Area Winter Carnival is taking place February 15-20 and includes an ice fishing derby, public skating, contests (closest to the pin, anyone?), billiards tournaments, poker run and the popular bazaar & silent auction. For a complete schedule of events click here.
Gravenhurst Winter Carnival February 17-19
Join Skokie on Family Day weekend, February 17th – 19th, for the 53rd Gravenhurst Winter Carnival. Every year our team of volunteers creates an event that is truly magical and this year will be no different! Admission for the entire weekend is just $5 for children and $10 for adults. Visit their website for full details. You otter join us!
Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival February 17-18
The Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival will kick off Friday, February 17th at 6pm with a skating party at the Dorset Ice Palace.
Saturday, February 18th will be a fun-filled day with activities for all ages. Join the festivities on Main Street in Dorset for a parade, cardboard toboggan race, horse-drawn sleigh rides, children’s games, hockey shoot-out, archery, entertainment, vendors, great food and much more. Fun for the whole family, snowball buttons are $5.00 per person (2 years and under free). The carnival will end with a good old hockey game at the Dorset Ice Palace.
Parry Sound Snowfest February 17-20
Snowfest is here , and that means it’s time to get outside, shake off the winter blues and have some winter fun!
The weekend schedule kicks off with the Fisherman’s Ball & Dinner on Friday night, then family fun continues all weekend long with activities like the pancake breakfast, ice fishing derby, the Great Parry Sound Toboggan Races, ice skating, games, the Saturday night fireworks show and much more. For a complete schedule of events be sure to check out their website.
Baysville Winterfest February 20
Held at the Baysville Community Centre, Winterfest 2023 will be jam-packed with fun for the whole family inside and out.
The day is set to kick off with a pancake breakfast at 9am Fluffy Feet the Clown will be around to entertain the kids, there will be games (and goats!), a bake sale and crafts all packed in before noon. The afternoon will include a chilli contest, hot dogs and hot chocolate to warm you up from the inside out, a donut eating contest, public skating and a Zoo to You experience upstairs in the arena. There is no admission to join the festivities, so grab the family and head to Baysville for the day!
Dwight Winter Carnival February 25
Returning to the Dwight Community Centre on Saturday, February 25th, the Dwight Winter Carnival is a highlight of the season for the whole family.
The Carnival starts at 9am with a full slate of activities until 3pm. You and the family can enjoy axe throwing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, cookie decorating, archery, skating, fat biking, snowshoeing, disc golf, body zorbs, top shot hockey, t-ball, a petting farm and even a fish pond!
There is also entertainment for the kids happening throughout the day. With all the activities and entertainment happening, organizers will be prepped and ready with lots of great food to keep visitors belly’s full throughout the day. The Dwight Lion’s Club will host a pancake breakfast from 9 to 10:30am, H.O.L.D. will host their annual Chili Cook Off (where you pick the winner!) from 11:30am to 1:30pm, the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville will host a BBQ from 11:30am to 1:30pm, and you’ll even be able to get some Maple Taffy on a Stick courtesy the Dwight Market & Pharmacy!
Buttons are available at Webster’s Beacon, Erika’s, Dwight Market & Pharmacy, Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, and the Lake of Bays Garden Centre for $4 per button or 4 for $12 (get one FREE!).
For more information on other events in the great Canadian wilderness just north of Toronto, click here.
Guest Author – Danielle Marr: Danielle is a content writer living in the quaint little village of South River. She worked as a community journalist for many years and now helps small business owners share their stories with the world. When she isn’t working 1-on-1 with clients, she loves to explore and write about the beautiful Great Canadian Wilderness region she calls home.