Despite warm temperatures, Fort Winter Festival still drawing large crowds

REGINA – The Fort Winter festival in Fort Qu’appelle is usually the scene of a white winter wonderland, but this year’s warm temperatures made for a grassier backdrop.

“Yesterday was a little too warm. The ice castle was melting, and the track for the motorcycle races did get worn down a little bit yesterday,” Organizer Brian Janz explained.

It’s a stark contrast from previous years where there was too much snow, and temperatures were well below freezing.

“Last year there was lots of snow everywhere. They were able to push snow up to make a snow hill. This year, they had to bring snow in for the toboggan,” Tracie Fuchs, who attended the event with her family recalled.

View image in full screen

But despite the melting ice castle, and the imported snow hill, organizers said the warm winter didn’t seem to impact the number of people coming out.

“I would say this year by the looks of it was probably one of our bigger years in a while. I think it was a pretty big turnout,” Janz said.

More than 1,500 people attended the festival over Friday and Saturday, taking in many family fun events, including the motor cross races, and a drifting competition.

However, one of the biggest draws of the weekend was the polar bear dip where 24 participants braved the icy cold waters of Echo Lake.

“You jump in and you’re so shocked. You don’t even register how cold the water actually is. And I think that’s a good testament to how cold the water actually is,” Global News’ Tiffany Lizee quipped.

Pledges from the polar bear dip totaled over $10,000, with the money going towards the All Nations Healing Hospital in Fort Qu’appelle, the Childrens Hospital, as well as the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

“Anybody I asked, I said either you jump or you pledge me. So I got a lot of pledges” Janz explained.