CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - After a few days of mild winter weather, things at the Jack Frost Winterfest are about to get downright frosty on Saturday night.
The 13th annual family event kicked off Friday night at three venues – Eastlink Centre, Murphy Centre and the Outdoor Snow Kingdom at the Charlottetown Event Grounds.
But, while tickets are required for the official Jack Frost venues, The Guardian’s Frosty Night on Victoria Row is free for everyone.
Frosty Night will feature a licensed area for those 19 years of age and over as well as a family zone. The licensed area will be open from 6-9:30 p.m. There will also be two buskers and some ice carvings.
The Love Junkies will be performing a variety of sets throughout the night on a stage that splits between the licensed area and the family zone.
Of course, the main attraction is likely to be the five-minute fireworks display that will be shot off the roof of the Confederation Centre of the Arts that Jack Frost event producer Tracey Singleton promises will be “pretty spectacular’’.
The Love Junkies will perform a final set once the fireworks have finished.
“The big question everyone has is what is the optimum viewing area for the fireworks, which is obviously Victoria Row and Grafton Street,’’ Singleton said.
Tim Hortons will also be on site providing coffee by donation to give people an opportunity to warm up while Mavors will be serving up a menu that includes sausages, hot dogs, veggie dogs, beer, shots, wine, specialty coffees and specialty hot chocolate.
There will be a shuttle service to and from the site but it will be restricted to Jack Frost ticketholders, offering transportation to and from the hotels and venues.
“If people are at the snow kingdom and want to move down there they can but for Islanders who are coming in specifically for the fireworks it’s probably best for them to use the parkade because you have to be on the Jack Frost circuit to use our shuttle service,’’ Singleton said.
Singleton said things like the The Guardian’s complimentary Frosty Night as well as the pancake breakfast on Saturday from 8-10 a.m. at the Confederation Court Mall was all about expanding the festival’s reach.
“I think this year our biggest focus was really around being involved in the community as much as we could.’’
PRICE WATCH: Cocoa cold defence
It’s Jack Frost Winterfest time, meaning you may be headed out to one of the many fun family friendly events happening around Charlottetown this weekend. With temperatures forecast to take a dip Saturday, you may want to keep your hands and stomach warm during the outdoor events. With that in mind, we went to some downtown coffee shops to find the prices of a large hot chocolate. Price listed do not include tax.
- Timothy's World Coffee: $4.45
- The Kettle Black: $4.50
- Beanz: $4.17
- Receiver Coffee Co.: $4
- Starbucks: $4.54
Here's a video message from Cindy Day about the Jack Frost Winterfest:
