Claresholm’s annual Winterfest promises a lot to see and do

By Rob Vogt
The Claresholm Community Centre will come alive with a day and evening of exciting activities and events as the 2024 Winterfest takes place this weekend.
“It’s going to be so fun this year,” said Megan McClung, engagement coordinator for the Town of Claresholm.
The action takes place at the community centre on Saturday, March 16 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Claresholm and District Family and Community Support Services will get the action going at 11:15 a.m. with their annual scavenger hunt.
Participants have to register for the event which will take teams around the community and back again.
New this year is “Touch a truck”. Trucks from the Claresholm Fire Department, Town of Claresholm, and local businesses will be on hand to look at, honk the horn and more.
Fortis is also offering a new event, “Chuck a duck”, building off the success of the bucket rides they gave in Amundsen Park during Fair Days.
People can buy a duck for $1 and go up the Fortis bucket where they will see a bullseye on the ground. They can then “chuck a duck” down, attempting to hit the bullseye.
Winterfest will also have a three-on-three ball hockey tournament this year, instead of a snow pitch tournament.
Participants have to pre-register for the ball hockey tournament, and each one will be put on a team. There is a $5 registration which goes to the purchase of prizes.
Each team is guaranteed three games in a round-robin tournament format, meaning each team plays every other team.
Stands will be brought in for spectators to watch all the excitement in the community centre parking lot.
The outdoor ATCO stage is back, featuring highlight performer Les Kesler of Lethbridge.
Illusionist Eduardo Fuentes; singers Chris Slevin and Ruby Koevert; and singer Jude Harrison; who were all the winners of the recent Casa Roma Cares Claresholm talent show, will also be performing on the stage.
“We have this amazing talent in our community,” McClung said.
Another new event is a fashion show, that takes the stage inside the community centre at 2 p.m.
Julia Moore will be emceeing the show, which features famous locals modelling the fashions of local merchants.
A vendors’ market with between 55 and 60 local vendors, as well as people from Medicine Hat, Edmonton and Calgary, will take over the inside of the community centre all day.
Each vendor will also donate an item to the event’s raffle table.
“There’s a lot free stuff (people) can partake in,” McClung said.
The Claresholm and District Museum will be at Winterfest too, offering the opportunity for people to take pictures in big cut outs and giving away swag bags.
The Soup Bowl will be donating freezies; a sponsor will provide S’Mores kits; Mary Holgate will be offering a Mexican Fiesta; and there will be one food truck on site.
Winterfest has also teamed with the Claresholm Skating Club to promote the club’s carnival that same day.
Once people have had their fill of fun and excitement at Winterfest they can head over to the Claresholm Arena at 3 p.m. for the carnival.
Once the carnival has brought the house down, everyone is invited back to the community centre for the movie “Wish” being put on, free of charge, by the Claresholm Arts Society.
The doors open at 5 p.m. with the movie starting at 6 p.m.
McClung encourages everyone to come out with their blankets and cozy stuff to watch the movie.
Then, the climax of the day will be the fireworks, set to light up the night-time sky at 8:30 p.m.
McClung invites everyone to come out to Winterfest. It will be a fun day that brings together people and supports the local economy.
She also welcomes anyone interested in helping out with Winterfest.
“If you want to volunteer, we will find you a place to volunteer,” she said.
Anyone interested in more information or volunteering can contact Megan McClung at 403-489-0762.