With less than a month to go, the 77th annual Penetanguishene Winterama is soon to dazzle the town with seasonal activities.
Held on Family Day long weekend, officials expect great success again this year for Ontario's longest running winter carnival.
Last year, brought “8,000 unique visitors” to the area, according to the town's recreation supervisor Marla Bailey-Viscoff, who goes on to highlight the positive impact it has on the local economy.
“With the snow, I would anticipate more event-goers this year,” she says.
Beginning on Saturday, as opposed to the usual Friday, allows for a more balanced planning and coordination process for staff, explains Penetanguishene events coordinator Cole Belcourt.
After so many decades, one might wonder how it continues to consistently attract so many people.
“Looking back, it’s always been the support we receive from the community and community groups,” says Belcourt.
Bailey-Viscoff agrees, “they generate community spirit."
Local groups such as the Rotary Club, the Lions Club, and the Knights of Columbus help organize some of the carnival's most popular activities, including a polar plunge, ice fishing and the parade.
Returning again this year, “The Great Canadian Lumberjacks are doing three shows on Saturday,” says Belcourt.
Winterama 2025 will introduce some new features as well; drop-in pickleball and an open swim are both scheduled for Sunday at the Waypoint Centre.
Switching it up a little, officials thought that instead of the traditional Friday night fireworks, the spectacle will occur on Saturday night. With so much to do, this will give people the opportunity to visit shops and restaurants in between activities, says Belcourt.
For interested foodies, local eatery Cafe Kittyhawk has developed a special Winterama menu.
Growing up attending Winterama was exciting, now Belcourt helps plan it.
“I was an operator for about six years, so this is my first Winterama on the back end in the planning process. It’s been fantastic,” he says.
“With Cole doing events, we’ve been able to provide more community services,” says Bailey-Viscoff of the divided recreation and events staff roles.
“With Winterama specifically, there’s more staff available. I can be in a completely different location and have all of the answers for the event-goers.”
A popular button design contest that started five years ago generated this year’s pin, which allows free access to some of the weekend activities.
Both Bailey-Viscoff and Belcourt think of Larry Patenaude when talking about Winterama. He is a big supporter of the festival, selling the buttons at Foodland on Poyntz St. for $3 leading up to the event every year.
“He could tell me what worked and what didn't,” Bailey-Viscoff remembers of her first year as recreation and events coordinator in 2018.
Many enthusiasts are avid collectors of the annual button. Patenaude owns one for every year. He also gave Belcourt copies for each one the events coordinator was missing since his birth year.
But what started in 1948 shows no signs of slowing down with all the ingredients there for a long and prosperous future. As more snow this time around should mean great sculpting and tobogganing conditions.
More information about Winterama and full schedule details can be found here.
