Winterfest 2012
The City of Barrie presents Winterfest & Festival of Ice the first weekend in February. After a successful event with record attendance of well over 25,000, we invite you to join us February 4 & 5, 2012!
Named one of the Top 100 Festivals in Ontario, Winterfest is a great way to celebrate the winter season with adventures that the whole family will enjoy. Outdoor activities include a polar bear swim, horse-drawn wagon rides, dogsled rides, mini-tube run, lumberjack shows, giant snow slide, ice maze, and more. The Festival of Ice features 300 pound blocks of ice carved into spectacular, themed sculptures. The February Blues Festival features great music in venues throughout Barrie and neighbouring communities. The Barrie Film Festival presents thought-provoking films at the Reel Stories Film Series. Warm-up at the MacLaren with a tour of the gallery and fun family activities. The Barrie Public Library celebrates with storytime and drop-in crafts. The community comes alive with winter fun and celebration. Don't miss these fun activities and more throughout the weekend!
Winterfest Shuttle
Saturday & Sunday - 10:00am to 5:00pm
Ride in comfort to Winterfest! The shuttle will depart the stop at Bayfield Mall beginning at 10:00am every :00 and :30. The shuttle will depart Barrie’s downtown Transit Terminal (Maple Avenue) every :15 and :45. The final shuttle will depart from the Transit Terminal at 5:15pm. Parking is available in the Bayfield Mall parking lot off of Coulter Street, and the bus stop is located on Coulter Street (click here to download the map).
Heritage Park & Memorial Square
Outdoor Fun
Saturday & Sunday - 10:00am to 5:00pm
Ice maze Sponsored by Colony Park Homes
Horse-drawn wagon rides Sponsored by Near North Customs Brokers
Snow sculpture & slides Sponsored by Stewart Esten Barristers Solicitors
Dog sled rides - $2 per person (weather permitting) Sponsored by the Travelodge on Hart Drive
Snowshoe demonstrations (weather permitting) Presented by Mountain Equipment Co-op
Ice canvas painting
Simcoe County Museum
Snow Valley's mini tube slide
Dog Cart Rides (Saturday only)
Helicopter rides ($45 per person)
Pony rides ($5 per person)
Scouts winter cookout ($)
Winter midway ($)
BodyZorbs Donated by Elephant Thoughts Event Entertainment
Festival of Ice
Saturday - 10:00am to 9:00pm, Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm
Marvel at artistic masterpieces carved out of three hundred pound blocks of ice by professional carvers. This year's icy wonderland theme is Frozen in Time. Check out the cool creations lit at night at a special viewing on Saturday evening. The Festival of Ice is sponsored by Downtown Barrie.
Lumberjack Show
Saturday & Sunday - 12:00pm, 1:30pm, and 3:00pm
Watch expert lumberjacks demonstrate their incredible skills - speed sawing, axe throwing, and chainsaw carving. Sponsored by Napoleon Fireplaces & Grills.
Toronto Kite Fliers
Saturday & Sunday - 10:00am to 5:00pm (weather dependent)
Back by popular demand, the Toronto Kite Fliers return to Winterfest to host a beautiful display of colourful and unique kites from across the province. This year's special guest is Philippe Thibault of Laval, Quebec.
Support Barrie's Grocery Assistance Program
Saturday & Sunday - 10:00am to 5:00pm
The shelves are low! When you come down to Heritage Park during Winterfest, please bring a donation of non-perishable food or cash for Barrie's Grocery Assistance Program. Your donation will go a long way in feeding Barrie families during this time of year. Donations can be dropped off at the Rock 95 and 107.5 Kool FM booth at Heritage Park.
NEW! Live Entertainment on the Winterfest Stage
Saturday - 12:30pm to 9:00pm, Sunday 12:30pm to 4:00pm
Other Locations - Saturday & Sunday
Grey and Simcoe Foresters Regimental Museum
36 Mulcaster Street (across from the MacLaren)
Saturday 10:00am to 4:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm to 3:00pm
Bring the whole family, warm-up with a hot chocolate, and check out the exhibits in Barrie's only downtown museum. Listen to Sgt. Murray and Pvt. Smith, dressed in full 1880s period uniforms, as they relate the history of Barrie's own Militiamen and provide insight into Barrie's military heritage.
Frozen in Time @ Your Library!
Barrie Public Library, Angus Ross Room - 60 Worsley Street
Celebrate Winterfest and warm up with some fun at Barrie's Public Library!
Saturday - storytime at 10:30am, drop-in crafts from 11:30am to 4:00pm
Sunday - drop-in crafts from 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Please note - activities are for children of all ages and there is no registration required. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
MacLarenArtCentre - 37 Mulcaster Street
Gallery hours - Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-4:00pm Suggested admission $5. Explore contemporary art with your family! Two exciting winter exhibitions are now on view, Interiors of Place by Joanna McEwen and Terminal by Kelly Wallace. After touring the galleries, warm-up by our fire and enjoy a hot chocolate from our Radio Cafe, open from 7:00am to 4:00pm.
Sunday - 1:30pm-3:00pm - Parents and children are invited to participate in a special Winterfest themed Family Sunday Workshop. Join regional artist Theresa Bott to create your very own three-dimensional snowflake. Admission is $5 per child or free for MacLaren Family Membership holders. Check it out at www.maclarenart.com!
Let's Go Skating
Enjoy skating at one of Barrie's arenas for only $1 per person!
Allandale Recreation Centre - 190 Bayview Drive
Saturday - 5:30 to 7:20pm
Sunday - 11:00am to 12:50pm
Eastview Arena - 453 Grove Street East
Sunday - 2:30 to 4:20pm
Holly Community Centre - 171 Mapleton Avenue
Sunday - 12:30 to 2:20pm
Other Locations - Saturday Only
Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale - 8:00am to 12:30pm
Central United Church - 54 Ross Street
Start your day with the 20th annual pancake breakfast at Winterfest - $6 for adults, $3 for children under 11, and preschoolers are free. Yummy!
Barrie Farmers' Market - 8:00am to 12:00pm
City Hall Rotunda - 70 Collier Street
Get an early start to Winterfest with a great variety of produce, artistry, and baking at Barrie's Farmers' Market!
St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church - 11:30am to 2:30pm
47 Owen Street - corner of Owen & Worsley Streets, across from the Library
Warm-up at the 8th annual HOT, HOT, HOT event! HOTdogs, HOT chocolate, HOT homemade soup and bakery fresh bread will be for sale. Family activities include free face painting, crafts, and a clown.
Soup's On! - 1:30pm to 3:30pm
City Hall Rotunda - 70 Collier Street
Mmm...there's nothing more satisfying at this time of year than a bowl of heart-warming soup. Stop by City Hall to enjoy a variety of soups from local restaurants to tempt your taste buds. All proceeds to the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario. For more information, contact Christine at cdrury@hsf.on.ca or call (705) 737-1020.
Other Locations - Sunday Only
Polar Bear Swim - 12:00pm
Centennial Beach, near washroom building
Are you brave enough to take a frosty dip in Kempenfelt Bay? There's no pre-registration required and no fee to participate, just show up at Centennial Beach ready to take the plunge! Spectators welcome - a sight not to be missed. Check out K.C. Colby from CTV News Barrie and Jamie Hall from B101 as they brave the chilly water of Kempenfelt Bay. Presented by the City of Barrie Aquatics Staff and the Barrie Fire Department.
Weekend Events
February Blues
February 2 - 5
Shake off cabin fever at the 15th annual February Blues Festival. Visit many great restaurants, bars, bistros, libraries and concert venues in Barrie and area to enjoy Blues and Jazz music performed by some of Canada's most brilliant artists. For more information, visit www.barriejazzbluesfest.com.
Reel Stories Film Series - Imperial Theatre, 55 Dunlop Street West
February 3 - 5
In its 8th year, Reel Stories returns for a thought-provoking weekend festival of documentaries and fact-based films from Canada and around the world including:
Friday, 7:00pm - Pina (Germany/France)
Saturday, 1:00pm - Surviving Progress (Canada)
Saturday, 4:30pm - Crossroads (USA)
Saturday, 7:00pm - My Week with Marilyn (UK/USA)
Sunday, 1:00pm - Into the Abyss (Canada/Germany)
Sunday, 4:00pm - You've Been Trumped (UK)
Sunday, 7:00pm - Buck (USA)
For more information, visit www.barriefilmfestival.ca.
Easter Seals Chili Fest - Southshore Centre, 205 Lakeshore Drive
Saturday 11:00am to 5:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Warm-up with a variety of chili and vote for your favourite! All proceeds to Easter Seals.
If your company or organization is interested in getting involved with Winterfest in 2013 please let us know! Perhaps you have an idea for a new activity or would like to support the event and gain valuable exposure by becoming a sponsor. We even have on-site brand activation spaces available. For more information about how you can celebrate winter in Barrie, please contact the Department of Culture at (705) 739-4299 or culture@barrie.ca.
