Final touches on preparations for the 2017 Prince Albert Winter Festival are underway, and this year organizers are working to appeal to even more people.
The festival, one of Canada’s longest consecutively-running, kicks off next Thursday with the 25th anniversary of the Voices of the North Show.
“Voices of the North is doing something a little different,” said Winter Festival president Barry Mihilewicz.
“Thursday and Friday they will have welcome back shows. They had a bit of an online poll, and people voted on who they wanted to see from the thousand plus acts that performed at Voices of the North over the last 25 years.
“We were at a rehearsal here a week ago, and it’s going to be really good.”
That special Voices of the North show isn’t the only new event festival-goers will be able to enjoy this year.
“Probably the biggest new thing we’re doing is the Family Day activities,” Mihilewicz said.
Family Day will kick off with a day of sliding at the toboggan hill in Little Red River Park. Free hot dogs and hot chocolate will be available, and the first 250 people will receive a free Crazy Carpet courtesy the Prince Albert Community Alcohol Strategy.
Admission will be a Winter Festival button.
“It’s going to be a fun time out at the hill,” Mihilewicz said.
That event will be followed by a pair of new shows in the evening.
Alongside what organizers hope are going to be new hits, old favourites will make their return to the 2017 festival. The Country North show, the Scout Parade and fireworks are just some of the events coming back this year.
Winter Festival buttons are already on sale across the city for $3 a button, which gets you access to all the Winter Festival locations.
Some shows have additional admission costs, but the button serves as admission to the sites.
For more information, visit preincealbertwinterfestival.com