Pancake breakfast, free ice skating, horse drawn sleigh rides. If that sounds like fun get ready because the First Annual Williams Lake Winter Carnival is about to descend on Boitanio Park this coming weekend. With an army of volunteers, this event has taken on a life of its own and is gearing up to be a very special weekend indeed.
More than 20 business sponsors have stepped forward to help support this new event including the events’ main corporate sponsor, Cariboo GM.
In addition to skating, horses and the Lions Club pancake breakfasts starting at 9 a.m. both days, events will include cross country skiing and snowshoeing with free equipment lending and instructors on site.
There will also be warming stations, snowball throwing competitions, igloo building, snow painting, face painting and a snowman building competition.
Live music, a special guest appearance by “Magical Jesaja” and karaoke will be on stage throughout both days.
First Nations volunteers will be participating with a wide variety of hand drummers and an opportunity to try out drumming.
Visitors can use the warming stations in tee pees, learn about the traditional game of Lahal, medicine wheel and sit in on story telling circles. On Sunday, starting at 2 p.m. there will be an open hand drumming circle with an invite to all drummers to gather to share songs.
During both days, several food vendors will be on hand including the Sugar Shack from 70 Mile, CJ’s Southwest Grill, New World Coffee & Tea House, and of course a Chili Cook-off that will see home cooks compete on Saturday with some of our local professional Chefs taking the stage on Sunday.
The judging team will be headed up by our own Mayor Walt Cobb.
The Arena Concession will also be open during the carnival and Family Fest will be taking place in the Gibraltar Room on Sunday.
Event organizers would like to invite the entire community to come out and be part of the Winter Carnival.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will take place in the main staging area of the park on Saturday morning at 10 a.m. to kick off the carnival which will run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.