Local carnivals are recipe for winter fun

BY ELYSE AMEND

elyse.amend@transcontinental.ca

While Montreal’s Fête des Neiges has been officially cancelled this year, West Islanders can still have plenty of wintertime fun at the numerous carnival’s organized by local municipalities over the next few weeks.

Kirkland:

Kirkland’s 2008 Carnival gets underway tomorrow with the fourth edition of the Amazing Survivor Factor Race at Meades Park at the corner of Hymus Boulevard and Châteauneuf Street. Kids seven years old and up, teenagers and families can participate in the competitions, which included everything from sled riding and taste testing. The cost is $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Registration gets underway at 5:30 p.m. and the race kicks off at 6:15 p.m.

The always popular family bingo will take place from 7 to 9:30 p.m. at the Sports Complex Gymnasium on Hymus Boulevard. Bingo cards will go on sale starting at 6:30 p.m. There will be prizes for the winners.

Saturday is Family Day in Kirkland, starting with a barbeque at 11:30 a.m. outside the Sports Complex Gymnasium. There will also be face painting and a kiddies and craft corner until 2:30 p.m. Sleigh rides, a carrousel, sugaring off, and plenty of other activities are sure to delight young and old, beginning at 12 p.m. There will also be public skating in the arena from 2 to 4 p.m.

If you’re hungry from all the action, there will also be an Irish-style family dinner at the Sports Complex at 6 p.m., which costs $15, or $8 for kids 12 and under. Tickets will be sold in advance on Jan. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Sports Complex. The closing ceremonies will take place at 6:30 p.m., during which the winner of the 2008 Youth Ambassador contest will be announced.

Pointe Claire:

Pointe Claire’s Winter Ice Breaker will take place this Saturday between 12 and 5 p.m. outside of the Recreation Centre on Douglas-Shand Avenue. According to Brent Cullen of the city’s recreation department, Pointe Claire’s winter celebration takes its name from the 10th anniversary of the 1998 ice storm, during which the aquatics centre was turned into a shelter. The event gets underway at 12 p.m. with a barbeque, followed by free swimming in the aquatics centre from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be inflatable games, sugar on snow, and hot chocolate throughout the day, as well as three ice-sculpture demonstrations at 2, 3, and 4 p.m.

“It’s low key, but the day’s about getting families outside and enjoying winter activities,” Cullen said, adding there will also be a family skate day at Hermitage Park on Feb. 9 between 1 and 5 p.m.

Beaconsfield:

Beaconsfield’s winter celebrations will be held over three weekends, starting with the Mardi Gras event on Feb. 3 A themed skating party will take place at the Recreation Centre on City Lane between 1 and 4 p.m. There will be mask and crown making activities, carnival games, face painting, and treats. On top of that, anyone who comes with skates and in costume can participate in the parade on ice at 2:30p.m.

There will be plenty of outdoor fun at Windemere Park on Feb. 9. Snow-shoeing, skating, broomball, and snow rugby are just some of the activities that will take place between 12 and 4 p.m.

There will also be a skating, bingo and pizza party the following weekend on Feb. 16. The family event gets underway at 4 p.m. and continues until 9 p.m.

Dorval:

There will be events all around town during Dorval’s winter festival, beginning with the opening ceremonies at the Sarto Desnoyers Community Centre (SDCC) at 6:30 p.m. The festival king and queen will receive their crowns, and the winner of the festival button award will be announced.

There will be an Italian dinner and comedy night for adults at the Pine Beach Citizens’ Association at 7 p.m on Feb. 7. The event is BYOB and tickets are on sale for $17 at the SDCC and the Surrey Aquatic and Community Centre (SACC).

Circles and Squares will host a western square dancing night on Feb. 8 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the SDCC. There will also be a Klondike Night for kids between five and 12 years old at the SACC from 7 to 9 p.m., and a Winter Crush Party for teens at the SDCC from 6 to 11 p.m.

There will be plenty of outdoor activities going on starting at 12 p.m. on Feb. 9, including rides in an antique 12-seat snowmobile. Family bingo will get underway at 7 p.m. at the Dorval Arena, and there will also be disco on ice.

The activities will continue on Feb. 9, including high flying stunts, recreational skating at 2 p.m., and the closing ceremonies at 3:30 p.m.

Dollard des Ormeaux:

Dollard des Ormeaux’s winter carnival will take place on Feb. 17 from 12 to 4 p.m. at Centennial Park, at the corner or Lake and Manuel Roads. There will be wagon rides, ice sculpting, tobogganing, skiing, and many more activities for the whole family.

If the weather does not cooperate, the carnival will be postponed to Feb. 24.