The City of Waterloo’s annual Winterloo Festival, organized by Create Waterloo, promises a day of winter-themed activities for all ages.
Taking place on Saturday, January 27, 2024, from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm in uptown Waterloo, this free and public event offers a wide range of attractions.
One of the festival’s highlights is the opportunity to meet the incredible snow dogs. Located at the Visitor Information Centre, you can get up close and personal with the team of the Ontario Federation of Sleddog Sports and learn about these remarkable animals and harness sports.
Expert snow carver Matt Morris will be creating a massive snow sculpture at the Erb and Caroline Intersection, showcasing his artistic talent as the snow takes shape.
A must-try winter delight is the maple taffy station at the Visitor Information Centre, where you can savour this sweet treat made by the Broken Ice Company.
There will be food trucks offering a variety of culinary delights, including Hissing Goose Coffee, The Funnel Cloud, Fo Cheesy, and Berlin 95. Farm Boy joins the festivities, offering free samples of Farm Boy™ Hot Chocolate and Banana Loaf Cake and a chance to win a gift basket of Farm Boy goodies worth $100.
The Winterloo Festival also offers various winter activities, such as pop-up curling, snow sculpting, and box hockey, at the Visitor Information Centre.
Skating enthusiasts can hit the outdoor rink in Waterloo Public Square, while DJ King Kadeem spins tunes from 12 P.M. to 5 P.M. on the 27th. Skates can be rented from McPhails Cycle and Sport.
For a unique experience, attendees can sign up for snow dog sled rides at the Visitor Information Centre, where children weighing up to 100 lbs can enjoy a short ride on a sled pulled by these impressive dogs.
Visitors can explore the microscopic world with LAUNCH Waterloo, using handheld microscopes to examine animal and plant slides and, weather permitting, snow and ice samples.
Art enthusiasts can watch award-winning ice carvers Philippe Saraiva, Fred Marquina, and Steven Benns in action as they create stunning ice sculptures in Waterloo Public Square.
Craft enthusiasts can participate in Cozy Critters Crafts, guided by Agnes from Mindful Makers. Other activities include tile making at the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, winter-themed games and crafts at the Waterloo Public Library, and learning about salt alternatives with Reep Green Solutions.
Furthermore, Reep Green Solutions and the Region of Waterloo will share snow-clearing tips and salt alternatives to promote responsible winter maintenance practices.
To cap it off, the Uptown Comfort Food Crawl runs in parallel, featuring delicious comfort foods from Uptown Waterloo restaurants like Revive Game Bar, Kentucky Bourbon & BBQ, and Bodega Rose. Visitors can vote for their favourite dishes and get a chance to win Uptown Dollars prizes.
So, mark your calendar for January 27th and head to uptown Waterloo for a day filled with winter wonder and delightful activities at the Winterloo Festival.