On Saturday, February 3, Île-des-Chênes will be hosting its second annual Snowman Festival, an opportunity for the community to come together and enjoy some great family fun. It all kicks off at 10:00 a.m. at the TransCanada Centre.
The festival’s centerpiece is once again the Build-a-Snowman Contest, sponsored by the Île-des-Chênes Country Store. Anyone in Île-des-Chênes or the immediate surrounding area is invited to build their best snowman, then take a picture and submit it for consideration (see below for contact info). The winner will be announced on February 3.
The Snow-and-Shine Sled and ATV Show will begin at 10:00 a.m. and stay open until 3:00 p.m., when winners will be announced.
Those with a knack for cooking can enter the pea soup and chili cookoff. There are two ways to participate. The first option, Feed the Masses, involves bringing your ingredients to the TransCanada Centre the night before the event, at 7:00 p.m. on February 2, and using the commercial kitchen to prepare your dish. Those who take advantage of this option will have their dish served at the canteen the following day. The second option, Family Bragging Rights, involves cooking at home and bringing your hot and ready dish in a crockpot for the judges to sample. Both options require a $20 entry fee. Judges will begin their blind taste test at 11:00 a.m.
Other activities include snowshoe racing (10:30 a.m.), a meet-and-greet with Wildlife Haven’s Bird Ambassadors (noon until 2:00 p.m.), and a cribbage tournament (2:00 p.m.). Kids carnival games will be available all day, including face-painting, bouncers, a bonfire, a toboggan slide, and access to Ritchot Fire Department fire trucks.
The day will be capped off with a fireworks display at 6:30 p.m. The beer gardens will also be open throughout the day.
