Weekend of Winter coming to Kentville

The Town of Kentville’s Weekend of Winter is making a big return this year with a flurry of new events.

The town’s winter celebration is back this year from Feb. 16 to 18 at Memorial Park, and organizer Gillian Yorke, also a staff member of the town’s Parks and Recreation department, is feeling excited.

The activities are part of the town’s wider Kentville Plays initiative, intended to get kids and families out and enjoying the weather, whether winter, summer, spring or fall.

“We’ve got some great events this year that people have seen before, but they’ve got some new twists,” she said.

These events include sledding in Memorial Park, where the majority of events will happen.

A sled building competition has been added to the docket this year, and teams of one or several members can join. The goal is to build the best sled in a unique style, whether it’s a funky or fast model.

“We’re really encouraging creativity with this one,” said Yorke.

Contests for best snow fort and snow art will also be held.

This year’s biggest and most anticipated event, however, might just be the snowball fight organizers have planned for Feb. 17.

The event will, as always, kick off with sledding under the park’s baseball field lights.

Apple cider and a to-be-determined controlled bonfire, under the watchful eye of the Kentville Fire Department, will keep those watching feeling warm.

“There’s just something really nice about hot cider and a fire in the winter time,” said Yorke, who recommends people watch the events schedule for any changes that might happen.

The weekend will also include a Hike Nova Scotia walk — or snowshoe, depending on the weather — around The Gorge, open to all, and a fat biking demonstration, showing how biking with wider, thicker tires makes the activity possible during cold winter months.

“We’re trying to get people active, and outside. These are all things we used to do when we were kids — sledding, snowball fights and snow forts. It’s impossible not to have fun with it,” said Yorke.

MARK GOUDGE/ SALTWIRE NETWORK Dave Sexton, of Falmouth, clears away snow from the edge of his driveway and gutter in preparation for a large snowstorm that was due to hit Nova Scotia Jan. 30-31.