The eighth annual Warm Up to Winterfest took over Saint John’s Market Square Sunday, giving people a chance to see the best of what the community has to offer.
The health-centric event boasted over 40 booths, face-painting, and various entertaining acts.
It even gave children a chance to face their fear of Bill Murray — not the actor from Groundhog Day or Ghostbusters — but a ball python from the Cherry Brook Zoo.
“I think the fear is just something they want to push through,” said Vanessa Corless, Bill Murray’s handler.
“They do want to touch the animal because it’s such a cool experience being able to touch Bill Murray and he’s so friendly … he really likes meeting new people.”
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Bill, service dogs, and some street hockey gave families an opportunity for a day out, something that can be challenging in the long winter months.
“They love coming up here. It’s just great for them to get out and be around other kids. It’s great for the city to do this type of stuff for the kids.”
The event is organized by the Fundy Wellness Network, a group “dedicated to enhancing the well-being of citizens and communities in Saint John, Quispamsis, Rothesay and Grand Bay-Westfield.”
Co-chair of the Fundy Wellness Network, Alberta Stanton Rousselle, says the event is looking to connect people with various wellness services across the region.
“What we’re trying to do is bring people out of their homes and realize what’s in the community,” she said.
“So the municipalities have lots on their tables about what’s going to happen over the next month, but all of our 40 other booths all talk about health and all the different dimensions of wellness, trying to get people to understand about making the healthy choice.”
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Rousselle said the winter time can be difficult for people and it’s important to try to encourage people to find activities that will keep them healthy, both physically and mentally.
“Winter can be long, it can be long for a variety of different reasons. People can be less physically active. We know that after Christmas people can get a little sad or depressed,” she said.
“But with all these booths we’re trying to encourage people to look at what do they need. Do they want to find events that are free, or maybe there’s a nominal cost but how can I take care of myself and my family.”
This is the first event of Winterfest, which runs through February 24.
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