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Plunge into the spirit of winter, at these winter festivals

From snow sculptures to polar bear dips - it's time to embrace winter
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Taking the plunge into Lake Simcoe at last February's Polar Bear Dip in Innisfil - one way to get the most out of winter. Miriam King/Bradford Today

Snow squalls, wind chills, ice pellets, frozen toes – it’s winter in Canada! Why not celebrate the season, by participating in a Winter festival!

Collingwood hosts The Art of Winter, a festival that “embraces winter as a snowy canvas for creativity, activity and connectivity,” Jan. 24 to 26 at the town’s Central Park. The Art of Winter kicks off at noon on Jan. 24 with outdoor public skating, a snow carving workshop with professional teams – including BWG’s Denis Bolohan – and a night-time Scavenger Hunt by flashlight.  On Saturday, learn to Curl at the Collingwood Curling Club, watch a professional Snow Carving demo, enjoy outdoor activities that include snowshoeing, public skating, sledge hockey, fireside concerts by the outdoor rink, an Amateur Snow Carving Competition from 1 to 4 p.m, Shinny Hockey, and a night time Scavenger Hunt. The fun continues on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  For details click here.

The Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority celebrates its 60th Anniversary in 2020. On Friday, Jan. 24 (a P.A. Day), there will be a Family Nature Day at the Tiffin Centre for Conservation, 8195 Line 8 in Essa Twp., on Winter Survival. From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. participants of all ages will build a quinzee snow shelter, learn how to start a fire, and other tricks of surviving outdoors in winter. On Feb. 13, the Family Nature Day theme is a Winter Trek, using Snowshoes or Kick Sleds. The NVCA also hosts Snowshoe Hikes in the Minesing Wetland, Sat., Jan. 25 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. $10 per person; bring your own snowshoes. For details, click here.

Grab your mittens - Winterfest returns to Barrie, Saturday, Feb. 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Includes horse-drawn wagon rides, Snow Valley Mini-tubing, Helicopter rides ($60 per person, weather permitting), inflatable slide, Scouts’ cook-out, skating on the heritage pond rink, ice sculpture display, Lumberjack Shows at 12, 1:30 and 3 p.m. both days, Speaking of Wildlife shows at 12:30 and 2 p.m. daily, and Toronto Kite Fliers out on the ice – weather permitting. Saturday only: Pancake Breakfast at Collier St. United Church from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Dog Cart Rides with The Good Guys from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Battle of the Chainsaws at 1 p.m. Sunday only: Snowflake Princess visits – and a Polar Bear Dip on Centennial Beach at noon! For details click here.

Hockey Day in BWG returns to Bud Brown Memorial Park in Bond Head on Sat., Feb. 8 from 8 a.m. to 12:30, for a 12th year. Join the young IP and Minor Novice hockey players as their teams compete on the outdoor ice. Every participant receives a medal. There will be a pancake breakfast inside the Bond Head Community Hall, served up by the Bond Head Lions club, followed by a Barbecue lunch - plus entertainment, face-painting and more for the kids inside the hall. Enjoy hockey the way it was meant to be played. The Mayor and Council will drop the puck to start the action on the ice.

Newmarket celebrates Winterfest on Saturday, Feb. 15 – with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Newmarket Community Centre & Lions Hall (200 Doug Duncan Dr.), and free activities at Riverwalk Commons from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Winterfest continues Sun., Feb. 16 with free skating at the Ray Twinney Complex from noon to 2 p.m., and free public swimming from 2 to 4 p.m. For information click here.

Innisfil Community Events Corporation (I.C.E. Corp.) challenges everyone to take the plunge into Lake Simcoe on Saturday, Feb. 22! The annual Innisfil Polar Bear Dip takes place at 1:30 p.m. at Innisfil Beach Park in Alcona. Minimum pledge/registration fee is $25, but participants are encouraged to raise more for charity. Polar Bear Dippers are also encouraged to wear costumes for the event –  as long as the outfit is appropriate for the family-friendly dip. For more information, registration information and pledge forms, click here.