Winter festivities have taken over the Island’s capital this weekend as the 13th annual Jack Frost Winterfest gets underway.
Hundreds of Islanders and visitors alike made their way to the Eastlink Centre in Charlottetown Saturday to take part in the indoor/outdoor winter festival.
Sixty families with VIP passes received early entry into the indoor festival grounds where they met and had their photos taken with Paw Patrol’s Skye and Chase.
The Guardian held a recent contest asking for submissions from readers to send in their winter photos, with winners receiving family VIP passes to the festival.
While many photos were submitted, only three winners were selected.
Charlottetown resident Lacey Dewar was excited to win with a photo she submitted of her two young children swinging on swings in their backyard.
Dewar said she and her husband, John-David, bring their family to the Jack Frost Winterfest every year.
“We love it. It’s just a really fun experience. It’s great to get outside with our family and friends.”
It’s great the city hold’s annual winter festivals such as this one, Dewar said.
“It’s so important to get outside and to be active with your community,” she said. “I think it’s important for our kids to get out and have fun and be amongst their peers.”
Evan MacCallum, who was also a contest winner, was taking part in the fun with Katie Stordy and three-year-olds Peyton MacCallum and Bentley Bonneville.
The children were excited to have a private meet and greet with Skye and Chase, he said, adding this was his third year at the festival.
“The kids just love it. The outdoor playground and the slides are great. It tires the kids out,” he said laughing.
It’s not only Islanders who are interested in the Jack Frost weekend.
Tara Loughery brought her family over from St. John, N.B. to join in the festivities, a first for the family.
“We thought it would be a fun winter get away,” she said, adding they all enjoyed the slides at the Charlottetown Event Grounds on Friday night.
Loughery’s six-year-old daughter, Ashley, said she had fun at the outdoor grounds.
“I liked the slides,” she said, after just having her face painted. “And I liked the obstacle course.”
Laugher said she was surprised when she arrived at the festival and saw the variety of activities there were for all ages.
“I thought it would just be for the little kids, but it’s for everybody. Everybody is welcome.”
The other winner of the family VIP passes from The Guardian’s winter photo contest was Lori Sharpe.
