Waskimo 2018 draws big crowds despite cold weather

Waskimo organizers are calling this year’s winter festival “a tremendous success.”

Despite the cold weather, organizer Jim Aho estimated around 7,500 people gathered on Family Day for the event at the Conexus Arts Centre.

“From all the families and all the little tykes out there, to the horse-drawn sleigh rides to all the food vendors and so forth — everybody was smiling, despite the temperatures,” he said.

Aho said a move to charge for parking rather than entrance to the event was successful. He predicted the change would become permanent as it both eased traffic congestion around the event and encouraged more people to attend.

Organizers were already discussing next year’s festival as they met up Monday night after wrapping up this year’s event, Aho said.

He said they’re hoping for more snow next year so Waskimo can bring back the sled dog championships. The event was cancelled this year, due to a lack of snow cover on Wascana Lake.