CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — The annual Jack Frost Winterfest is officially underway in downtown Charlottetown.
About a dozen people were busy working Friday morning putting the finishing touches on the snow kingdom which is located this year at Confederation Landing Park.
The event, which runs through Islander Day on Monday, is being revamped this year. The snow kingdom has moved from the Charlottetown Event Grounds while the rest of the festival has been spread among a total of five separate venues, all within walking distance of each other.
“Lots of people will be converging on the city, both from out of province and in-province,’’ said Wayne Long, events development officer with the city. “Many Islanders (also) come in from outside Charlottetown and make a weekend of it in the capital city.’’
Island Coastal has been dumping truckloads of snow in the parking lot owned by the Charlottetown Area Development Corporation (CADC) since just after New Year’s Day. The parking lot is located adjacent to Confederation Landing Park. Festival staff has since turned this mountain of snow into the tube run, sledding and ice slides.
The event is being run by Capital Events Inc., an industry-led organization made up of the hotel association, Downtown Charlottetown Inc., Discover Charlottetown, with seats also held by the city and the Special Events Reserve Fund.
Confederation Landing park will feature interactive activities, such as fat-tire biking (tires designed for winter riding), sling shot activities, a snow maze, axe throwing, ice sculpting, a freestyle snowmobiling demonstration and a chill zone where people can sit around a fire pit.
Next door, Founders’ Food Hall and Market will feature an indoor food pavilion and serve as a warmup spot. There’s also a skating rink just outside.
The venues also include the Delta P.E.I. Convention Centre, Confederation Centre of the Arts and Victoria Row, where the free Aurora show takes place Saturday night. The show includes a DJ, music, ice sculpting, buskers, fireworks and a number of other activities.
The weather looks ideal for an outdoor event. The forecast, as of Friday, called for sunny conditions on Saturday with a high of -8 C, cloudy with a chance of flurries and 1 C on Sunday and sunny and -1 C on Monday.
Long also reminds festivalgoers that the parkades will be open throughout the weekend.
All of the venues will be open with activities through Sunday.
“On Islander Day Monday, it’s only the snow kingdom that operates,’’ Long said. “The outdoor rink will also be operating, and Founders’ Food Hall will also be open, but the indoor playland and the Confederation Centre of the Arts’ live stage will close on Sunday after those shows and events.’’
Ticket are available at www.jackfrostfestival.com.
The venues
The following venues will feature activities for families as part of Jack Frost Winterfest this weekend:
- Confederation Landing Park – outdoor family activities.
- Delta P.E.I. Convention Centre – fun participative and interactive family activities.
- Confederation Centre of the Arts – children’s shows and entertainment.
- Founders’ Food Hall and Market – local vendors food and beverage artisans.
- Downtown Charlottetown – free event, outdoor festivities and pyrotechnics.
