Final preparations are underway for Barrie’s Winterfest.
Ice carvers are helping set the scene for Barrie's Winterfest, which kicks off on Saturday. It’s just one of a number of attractions that are expected to garner a lot of attention.
"We brought some of the cold, it's nice and chilly in the tent with the sculptures, there's a lack of snow, we brought some snow in to put around the sculptures," says ice sculptor Josh Hummel.
While it’s cold inside the tents, mild weather has forced dog sledding to be cancelled. However, all other Winterfest activities are going ahead.
In fact, officials think higher than normal temperatures could entice more families to come out.
“We always plan lots of activities that don't require snow or ice,” says Amanda dyke, community events programmer for the City of Barrie. “Our midway, lots of great vendors, maple taffy station, dog kart rides, horse drawn wagon rides, lumber jack show; none of those things require ice or snow.”
Downtown restaurants can also help people get in the winter spirit. Fourteen restaurants are participating in the hot chocolate trail.
"We are doing an Earl Grey hot chocolate,” says Emily Bos of Bohemia. “We have sugared candied violets as a garnish. Decadent and tasty."
There are also a number of other winter themed festivals taking place elsewhere in the region, including:
- Beaverton Lion’s Winter Carnival
- Snofest in Georgina
- True North February Festival in Kleinburg
- Winterfest Weekend in Midland
- Sunnidale Winterama in New Lowell
- Winterfest in Newmarket
- Port Carling Winterfest
Barrie’s Winterfest and most of the festivals above will wrap up on Sunday.
