Warm weather melts plans for winter festival

The recent spate of warm weather has organizers of the Prince Albert Winter Festival feeling a bit concerned.

Temperatures this week are all well above 0 C, and Environment Canada is not forecasting snow for P.A. until Sunday. At least one popular winter festival event has already been cancelled, according to Festival President Barry Mihilewicz.

“The snow sculptures, unfortunately, I think are not going to happen this year. There hasn’t been enough clean snow to make any blocks,” he said.

Even if the area received a foot of snow next week, Mihilewicz said it would still be too late. The snow sculpture event was also cancelled last year due to similar conditions.

Mihilewicz was more optimistic about other snow-required events such as the dog sled races at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse. However, organizers of the Canadian Sled Dog Challenge moved the start line of their race from downtown Prince Albert to the Spruce Home Activity Centre because of the lack of snow.

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Mihilewicz said the positive side to the warmer weather is it will bring out more people to the event.

“If the weather is really warm that generally gets more people out to watch the King Trapper and the dog races,” he said.

The festival kicks off Thursday night at the Prince Albert Exhibition Centre with the Voices of the North Show. There is a jigging contest Sunday at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre and outdoor events on Feb. 24.

nigel.maxwell@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @nigelmaxwell