Break up the winter blahs

Windsor Winter Carnival to kick off with business challenge

In order to break up the wintertime blahs, the Town of Windsor is once again getting ready to host its annual winter carnival.

Dianne Levy, the manager of Windsor’s recreation and program operations, said this year’s event, which runs from Feb. 1418, features something for everyone to enjoy.

“It’s the middle of February; it’s easy to get a bit stir-crazy, depending on the weather. It’s a nice outing. It’s very festive and fun. It gets people out,” said Levy.

“We’re trying to hit up all the ages.”

The festival kicks off on Valentine’s Day with a lunchtime business competition. Teams of three to five people compete in a variety of snowy games in hopes of taking home the Windsor Winterpalooza Cup.

“They are just challenges that probably no one has ever done; everybody’s learning and having some fun outside,” said Levy, noting the longest drive challenge has competitors use snow to make a tee and then, using a club, send a ball hurtling forward. Dinner is served during the award presentation. The outdoor fun is held in the park near the Hants County War Memorial Community Centre.

The Town of Windsor and Scotiabank have both won the coveted cup in the past. In 2017, the challenge was cancelled due to the weather.

Nothing is planned for Feb. 15, but Feb. 16 is senior’s day at the community centre. Levy said there’s a cribbage tournament during the day, followed by a late soup and sandwich lunch, and then 45s in the evening. All of the senior events are held in the Gliders Room.

“Some people stay all day. They come and do crib and have lunch and then they play 45s at night,” said Levy. “It’s a social day for sure.”

Also that evening, from 6:308:30 p.m., pre-teens are invited to a dance party in the community centre auditorium.

Immediately following the dance, there will be fireworks at Elmcroft Park.

“That’s super popular,” said Levy. “It works out so that when the parents are coming to pick up their kids at the dance, which is over at 8:30 p.m., they just go over across the street and watch the fireworks. It’s a really great show.”

If the sky isn’t clear, the fireworks will be rescheduled.

Feb. 17 features a free skate at the Hants Exhibition Arena from 9-9:50 a.m. and it’s carnival day at the community centre from 1-4 p.m.

“We have carnival games with prizes. We have a giant bouncy castle – which is huge. It’s interactive... It takes up about a quarter of the auditorium,” said Levy. “We serve healthy snacks. There’s face painting. There’s all kinds of fun for the whole family, really.”

The cost is $5 at the door. That gives children the chance to play in the bouncy castle once, unlimited carnival games (but only one prize) and access to face painting and snacks.

“If you wanted to do more bounce castle or more prizes, it’s $1 a ticket. It’s very affordable,” said Levy.

The festival wraps up Feb. 18 with a free public skate from 1212:50 p.m.

“It’s the long weekend so people will still have a family day on Monday to do whatever they’d like in the community,” Levy said.