(Photo courtesy: pawf.ca)

By paNOW Staff

winter show on the snow

Prince Albert Winter Festival kicks into full gear

Feb 14, 2025 | 5:00 PM

Prince Albert residents aren’t letting the frigid temperatures put a freeze on their plans to enjoy the 61st annual Prince Albert Winter Festival (PAWF).

Event president Bev Erickson said she’s pleased with the turnout the Country North Show and cabaret had last Friday to kick off the event and she’s looking forward to the Rock Show Experience attracting even more people to the Exhibition Centre starting tonight.

“Aiden Edwards, LJ and Tyson Kimbly, Leslie Ambrose, Kelly Clarke, Leslie Ambrose, Ben Myo, Brooklyn Valcourt, Miranda Ironstand-Baxter…we have a lot of really great local talent,” said Erickson.

The shows start at 7 p.m. Friday and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday with a cabaret to follow at 10 p.m. Tickets are $20 at the door.

On Sunday, a jigging contest will get underway at 2 p.m. at the Friendship Centre. And another competition, The Beerd Derby, will take place starting at 7 p.m. at the Prince Albert Wildlife Centre. Last year, more than 100 people came to get their moustaches and beards judged. There was even a category for hairiest legs.

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The Family Sliding Day that was to take place on the 17^th at Little Red has been postponed due to the cold weather, but kids will still have an opportunity to participate in a number of other events during their February break from school.

The festival includes several activities for kids during the February break. (PAWF/Facebook)

Family Cultural Days get underway at 1 p.m. on Tuesday the 18th at the Exhibition Centre and runs until Thursday.

“In the afternoon we’ll have entertainers and crafts like making earrings or a necklace, or diamond art. There will be storytelling, powwow dancing and jigging, bingo, a sensory-friendly morning for kids and on Thursday there is an Old Tyme Family Dance.”

The Voices of the North Show takes place next Thursday and Friday, then Saturday kicks off with a pancake breakfast at the Legion, followed by a trade show in the Prince Albert Armoury, an arm wrestling competition, dog sleds and the outdoor King and Queen Trapper events which feature traditional games like moose calling and axe throwing.

(A photo from February 1975 of some King Trapper event competitors. (PAWF/Facebook)

It is perhaps the event that most people find synonymous with the 61-year-old festival that, during its early years, was held on the North Saskatchewan River. The PAWF is considered one of Western Canada’s longest-running winter shows on the snow.

Pictured here was the winter festival in the early 1970s when it was held on the river. (Submitted photo/Bill Smiley archives)

“That will be an excellent weekend to come and see what the King and Queen Trapper event is all about and if you’ve never watched the dogs take off for a race or come back in, that’s a wonderful experience,” said Erickson. “We’ll also have dog sled rides, sleigh rides and a puppy petting pen.”

The festival wraps up with a gospel show on Sunday, Feb. 23.

All events require a PAWF button to get in. They can be purchased at any Lake Country Co-op location in town. Event tickets are available at Lake Country Co-op Food Store or at the door of the event.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com