Duane Hicks
The Downtown BIA and Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce rang in the Christmas season here Saturday with the second-annual “Festival of Frost.”
“It was a fun time,” said Curvy Chick owner Jennifer Horton, who was part of the organizing committee with Chamber manager Annely Armstrong-Thorstad, Kimberly Emes-Nicholson (Emes Financial), Judy Kielczewski (Betty’s), Krista Kellar and Robin Payeur (Main Street Market), Richard Boileau (McTaggarts), and Jenny Greenhlagh (JGreenhalgh Solutions).
“It was a great day for socializing,” agreed Armstrong-Thorstad.
“I talked to people I hadn’t seen in a year.”
“We had Santa and the activities that went on were fun, like the ‘Santa Shuffle’ and the boot hockey tournament,” noted Horton.
“There were different food vendors and the animals seem to go over really well,” she added, noting B93’s “Burst a Bus” food and toy drive was “awesome.”
“And people liked that they could go and warm up in front of the campfires,” said Horton.
“I think everybody had fun.”
Horton admitted the event wasn’t perfect. For instance, some participants that organizers were expecting didn’t show up.
And this time of year is busy so it’s hard to know how many people will come downtown that day.
But organizers will be sure to keep the “Festival of Frost” tradition alive next year—although it might be tweaked a bit.
“I think after this year, it’s going to be a little bit different,” said Armstrong-Thorstad.
“We want to make sure it’s really good for next year so we’re definitely taking any suggestions that people have,” she noted.
“I am looking forward to next year,” said Horton.
“There might be some things we revisit but I am excited.”
Saturday began with “Breakfast at the North Pole” (held at St. John’s Anglican Church).
Then around 11:30 a.m., Energy Fitness held a “Santa 1K Shuffle,” in which a group of children and their parents donned Santa hats and ran from From the Grind Up to Celeste’s to get a candy cane from Mrs. Claus and then back again, with Santa Claus leading the pack.
Portable campfires were set up along the 100 and 200 blocks of Scott Street for people to warm their bones and, in some cases, roast hotdogs and make s’mores.
Groups and businesses ranged from the Rainy Lake Nordic Ski Club and Pharmasave to Webb’s Power Shack and Sunset Country Ford, as well as a few individual vendors selling their wares.
For a second year, David Loewen had sheep, goats, and chickens for people to pet while Running Horse Ranch again brought rare Ojibway horses for people to see up close.
NCDS Career Works, meanwhile, held a bake sale inside its building, selling many tables full of treats, with all proceeds going to local charities.
Outside they hosted casual games of boot hockey.
Vendors also were selling crafts at the Circle of Life Building on Mowat Avenue.
The “Friends of the Fort Frances Museum” sold hot chocolate, homemade cookies, and popcorn in the museum courtyard while across the street, members of Christian Fellowship Chapel served up hot apple cider and food.
The Rainy River District Youth Choir sang in the museum courtyard, as did the Fort Frances Choraliers.
The Chamber also wrapped up its tree auction, ending the bidding at 3 p.m. on Saturday.
Four trees were decorated and donated by the Fort Frances Public Library, NCDS, the Chamber, and Marj Boileau and Flo Lerman.
Saturday also was “Shop the Neighbourhood Day,” a Yellow Pages campaign to promote local shopping.
As such, businesses were giving out reusable shopping bags, buttons, scarves, umbrellas, and other promotional items.
Then to cap the day, the 57th-annual “Parade of Lights” drew a total of 17 floats and vehicles, ranging from local businesses and groups to area fire departments and police services.
Of course, it concluded with Santa Claus and his sleigh, which this year featured special guests “Elsa” and “Anna” from the hit Disney film, “Frozen.”
Winners of the best float prizes (sponsored by Boston Pizza) included:
•Best Individual—the Whiting Family;
•Best Church/School—Evangelical Fellowship Church;
•Best Business—Duty Free Americas;
•Best Non-Profit—Fort Frances Midget ‘AA’ Canadians and Kenora-Rainy River Children and Family Services (who were collecting toys for the “Adopt-an-Angel” program); and
•Best Interpretation of Theme—Fort Frances Parents for French.
“I thought it was a really good turnout this year,” said Kellar, who helped organize the parade along with Payeur and Armstrong-Thorstad.
“I was over the moon to see how excited the kids were,” she added.
“I got the opportunity to stand at the end barricade so I got to see the look on the kids’ faces when Santa rolled down.
“And I think we had some amazing participants this year who had some fun interpretations of the theme,” said Kellar.
This year’s theme was “Frozen Fun & Twinkling Lights.”
“I am really glad to see the community out supporting the mobile parade,” Kellar remarked.
She also felt the entire “Festival of Frost” went off very well.
“We’d always like to have more participants, but I think this year was a good return to the tradition that it used to be,” she reasoned.
“Hats off the ‘Festival of Frost’ committee, the Chamber, and BIA for all their hard work,” added Kellar.
“It was a wonderful thing to see.”
