The Sundre Museum and World of Wildlife as well as the pioneer village were recently alive with activities and entertainment during the 13th annual Winterfest celebration.
About 700 people stopped by over a period of two days to check out performances as well as to participate in a variety of family-friendly crafts prepared for the annual event, which was held Feb. 18-19 at the Sundre and District Historical Society's grounds.
"We feel well satisfied with our weekend," said Marilyn Nickeson, a volunteer who has been involved in coordinating Winterfest for five years.
"We couldn't ask for more."
There were wagon rides, live musical performances, artists displaying samples of their work, activities for children including a leather-making workshop in which kids got to make their own bookmark, an ice-sculptor, a hawk tamer, as well as a farmers' market at the Sundre Elks Hall and the Catholic Church across the street. There were also several new artisans who had never before participated in the event, and they said they are looking forward to coming back again, she said.
"I feel so grateful to have their participation ó the artists and the entertainers. And this year we had the great honour of having the Sundre Cloggers. They were well enjoyed."
Winterfest has always been and always will be an affordable Family Day weekend event, she said.
"That's how it got going, to provide local events for families," she said, adding organizers have no intention of changing the event's date so people can always anticipate when Winterfest will take place.
Nickeson expressed her appreciation not only for the community's on-going support for the event, but also the dozens of volunteers who offer their time to make it all possible to begin with. About 60 people made themselves available, and she said that speaks volumes about their commitment to contributing back to their community.
"You couldn't do it without all of these folks."
