‘Something for everybody:’ Frost Regina returns for 2024

From ice sculptures to fire shows and acrobats, Frost Regina returns to the Queen City on Friday.

The winter festival is back for a third year, bringing in new events and performances to its hub at the REAL District according to Cathleen Betker, the manager of major events at REAL.

“Winter is long and hard and cold sometimes,” Betker said Friday. “So being able to do something fun, come together, go down the slides, have some hot chocolate (and) see all the lights, it’s just a really great way to get together.”

This year, activities at Confederation Park on the REAL District campus will be completely free for families.

Betker said REAL has worked diligently to improve its strategy and always takes feedback into its consideration.

“(There’s) no cost at all and then we’ve really expanded our performances on the glow stage inside, so (there’s) a wonderful assortment of performances,” Betker said. “There’s really something for everybody.”

One of the performers is Paz the Sports Guy, who has a sports comedy and acrobatic act.

“It’s the only hockey trivia show of its kind in the entire world …,” he told media on Friday.

“It’s like an interactive experience. It tries to connect with the real community roots of hockey, what it means to gather as a group and all hang out together and go for a ride – only I do it through circus tricks and a lot of sports comedy.”

Paz’s act includes juggling flaming hockey sticks.

Paz the Sports Guy juggles flaming hockey sticks. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

The festival will also host the Silver Starlets, an aerial acrobat duo from Toronto.

“It’s full of glam, glitz and glitter. We don’t sweat, we sparkle,” said Molly Keczan, one half of the tandem.

She likened their performance to Cirque du Soleil and said she and Libby Sparks were actually part of Cirque Du Solei’s talent pool.

They have a trapeze act and also perform many manoeuvres with silk while suspended in the air.

Keczan said it was a family-friendly show.

“It’s a great mix of the acrobatics as well as the comedy,” she said. “We get to have fun and connect with our audience. We get people up laughing and dancing with us.”

Some of the new attractions this year include a mini curling rink to promote the upcoming Montana’s Brier, which is scheduled to be held March 1-10 at the Brandt Centre.

Although Frost lost money in each of its first two years, Betker said the festival is moving in the right direction.

“The thing about developing new events is that realistically, you’re not going to make money for the first three to five years. Like any new business (or) any new venture, it takes time …,” Betker said.

“Year 3, we’re in a break-even spot and next year we’re looking at really significant revenue, so (we’re) exactly where we want to be.”

The gates at REAL District are to open at 5 p.m. The festival’s opening ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m. at Pat Fiacco Plaza in downtown Regina.