Animal call competition is one of the events from the King and Queen Trapper competition. Pictured is the 2020 competition. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By paNOW Staff

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

P.A. Winter Festival to wrap this weekend with trapper competition, trade show, fish fry and concerts

Feb 23, 2023 | 1:00 PM

It might be a cold end to winter, but there’s still a reason to celebrate the season. One of the city’s longest standing winter traditions is wrapping up this weekend.

The Prince Albert Winter Festival, in its 59^th year, will host its outdoor weekend starting with fireworks on Friday, Feb. 24.

“Mother Nature has promised us that the weekend is going to be considerably warmer,” Festival President Bev Erickson told paNOW. “We’re really hoping people can dress up and get outside and enjoy the King and Queen Trapper events and the dog sled races.”

The festival is “going strong. We’re well underway. We’ve had a lot of shows under our belts already and we’ve got an exciting weekend coming up. I look forward to seeing the community out enjoying what we have to offer,” she said.

This is Erickson’s seventh year as president of the festival and one of her favourite events will take part this weekend.

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“I enjoy all the shows. I especially enjoy the jigging and the king trapper events. If you’ve never seen something like that it’s a really interesting thing to go and see. All the events are timed events so it’s pretty interesting to see how fast people can do these things,” she said.

This year’s drive-thru fireworks sponsored by Mann- Northway GM will be hosted at the Art Hauser Center near the Andy Zwack baseball diamond at 8 p.m. Before and after the event, the Rotary Trail Walking Path will be closed for public access from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Ten dollars and your Winter Festival button will get you into Saturday’s pancake breakfast at the Legion from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.

After getting started with a bang, festival-goers can look forward to the dog and sleigh sled races followed by the king and queen trapper events. The dog sled races at the outdoor site (west of Canadian Tire) will bring together some of the top mushers and dogs from the West. On Saturday, races begin at 11:30 a.m. with the Buck Meredith Memorial one-dog race, followed by the 12 p.m. six-dog race. At 1 p.m. the Park Range three-dog junior race will begin, followed by the 2 p.m. Sask 10-dog sled championship.

Those who miss Saturday’s dog sled races have another chance to tune in on Sunday, Feb. 26 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. with a six-dog race, four-dog race and 10-dog sled championship.

It’ll be a frosty weekend for the dogs competing in the sled races. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

Men and women across Saskatchewan vying for the title of king and queen will display all the traditions and skill sets of living off the land in a series of competitive events. Some of the competitions will include animal calling, trap setting, swedesaw, water boiling and more. Registration for the trapper event begins at 9 a.m. with competitions starting at 10 a.m. at the P.A. Winter Festival Outdoor Site on Marquis Road West. The buckskin parade event will take place before the trapper event.

Those looking for a special treat can drive-thru at the festival’s Fish Fry event at the Prince Albert Exhibition Center from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 and again from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 26. Cash is preferred and $18 will score you a full plate of fish, fries, coleslaw and a pop.

If you can’t make the weekend outdoor events, there’s always a chance to take a tour and catch a final glimpse of the various snow sculptures throughout the city. For all locations of the sculptures, click here.

Shopping for something special? The event’s trade show with over 100 artisans will take place Feb. 25 and 26 at the Alfred Jenkins Fieldhouse from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is a winter festival button which was designed this year by artist Aiden Edwards.

Country music for some can be the soundtrack to a good celebration. For $20 a ticket, you can tune into country classics performed at the Exhibition Centre starting at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 followed by a country cabaret show at 10 p.m. If you can’t make the live music on Saturday, there’s a 7 p.m. gospel show at the E.A. Rawlinson Centre on Sunday night.

A scene from a previous country music show at the Prince Albert Winter Festival. (Facebook/Prince Albert Winter Festival)

“This has been an ongoing thing for 59 years. Next year is the 60th and we’re looking to have a bigger and better event. Volunteers are always welcome to come and join in.” Erickson said.

For more information on the festival’s outdoor weekend, or how to sign up for events, visit the festival’s website, here.

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panews@pattisonmedia.com