Seeley's Bay residents fight winter blahs with 17th annual Frost Fest

Posted Feb 2, 2012 By Hollie Pratt-Campbell

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EMC Events - There promises to be something for everyone at this year's Frost Fest in Seeley's Bay - even for those who aren't too keen on the idea of "frosty" activities in the first place.

The annual winter carnival is made possible through the support and cooperation of many local organizations, businesses, volunteers and organizing committee members, and has been a tradition in the community for 17 years now. The three-day event runs Feb. 3-5, and each day is jam-packed with exciting indoor and outdoor events for the whole family.

"It's that time of year where everybody's got the winter blahs," says Frost Fest organizing committee member Karen Simpson. "This gets everybody out and going, and it's something you can look forward to. Once Christmas is over you can think 'soon it will be Frost Fest.' You get to go out and have fun - it does build community spirit."

The fun kicks off on the evening of Feb. 3 with a number of activities including fireworks, skating on the bay and "penguin bowling" on ice. The latter event is unique to Frost Fest, and consists of participants trying to hit 10 pins "dressed" in penguin suits with a frozen bleach jug.

"It's like a combination between (bowling and curling)," says Simpson.

Other highlights of the weekend include wagon rides, a silent auction, a volleyball tournament at Degraff Farm, an Elvis-themed karaoke night and a roast beef dinner to cap it all off on Sunday evening.

"The volleyball tournament...has been one of the mainstay activities because it's held in the enclosed barn and it doesn't matter what the elements are like," says organizing committee member Sue Lackie.

She explains that it is important to the committee to include a wide variety of indoor and outdoor events each year. Having ample activities for youth is also an important priority. This year, a new cookie baking contest is being organized for Saturday afternoon by the Bay Buds, a local organization that raises money for cancer research.

"The kids have to bring a dozen cookies with them," says Simpson. "One's for the taste tester and the others will be sold, and all the money that's raised goes to the Bay Buds."

She notes that "it's sometimes hard to find things for the kids. You get that group from six to high school that's really, really awkward...But this is something that to me is perfect for anyone from Grade 3 to Grade 8."

Lackie points out that another important aspect of Frost Fest is the fundraising opportunity it presents for local organizations.

"We (the organizing committee) bring in the people so they can access that," she says. "Then 100 per cent of any funds that are gathered from Frost Fest after cost are returned to community groups who might need financial support in order for them to run."

Simpson explains that "we can't fill everyone to the fullest but we can...give them 50 per cent or 30 per cent of what they need...The community grows and changes because of it."

Lackie adds that Frost Fest is the perfect complement to Seeley's Bay's other major annual community event, their Canada Day celebration.

"They're almost six months apart," she says. "We build it up so that people are looking forward to these events, and at least twice a year the community can come together in a purely festive fashion."

For more information and a complete listing of events and times, please visit www.seeleysbayfrostfest.com.




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