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Feb 18, 2025
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As the extreme cold weather continues in Saskatoon, a popular winter event is gearing up to open its doors.
Nutrien WinterShines starts on Feb. 15 at 12 p.m. at Market Square on 19th St W and will run for a week.
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Many folks may be wondering how they will stay warm at an outside festival, but Shad Ali, WinterShines festival director, said there will be a number of ways for people to beat the cold.
“We’ll have the fire pit out in the open area,” he said. “We have a couple of trailers out there that are heated.”
The Gather Local Market will also be open throughout the entire festival so people can step inside and warm up, and grab a hot beverage.
Despite the warm-up spots, Ali is reminding people to dress accordingly.
“Bring a blanket (and) make sure you dress properly,” said Ali. “Good coat, toque… gloves and boots.”
The 2025 festival features new events like storytelling and para-biathlon with laser rifles, as well as reworked events.
“The snow and ice slide… it is absolutely phenomenal,” Ali said. “They’re (the ice carvers) still carving a big ice dragon at the top of it.”
The new and improved slide is bigger, allowing for adults to also get in on the fun and Ali said he can’t wait to see how the kids react to the dragon.
“Some kid is going to get on that and start coming down,” said Ali. “They’ll turn around to look at the dragon and now they’re coming down on their belly.”
While people are going down the slide they can also get a peak at some of the unique and fascinating ice sculptures.
Ali said one sculptor even came from outside of Canada.
A wizard throne made out of ice by Mexican ice sculptor Julio Martinez. (Will Mandzuk/650CKOM)
“We had Julio Martinez come in from Mexico,” he said. “Julio did a throne … on the back of that throne is the head of a wizard.”
Ali said his favourite thing about the throne is that you can take a family photo with it.
“I watch Grandpa (and) Grandma and grandkids get up on that throne taking pictures and I see the smile on their faces,” said Ali. “That brings particular joy to my heart, that’s why we do this festival.
Other sculptures include a second dragon, and an angel that has hands people can sit on.
Ali said he hopes people will see the festival as a warm hug on a cold day.
Find more information on all the festival events at the WinterShines website.
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