Fundy Winterfest 2024 | NB Traveler highlighting the many great things about the Maritimes, particularly New Brunswick

Fundy Winterfest 2024 is featured in this episode. The six communities of Rothesay, Quispamsis, Hampton, Saint John, Grand Bay-Westfield and Fundy St. Martins join together for a 6-week long event starting February 1, where people celebrate and embrace winter as an opportunity to connect across generations, communities, classes and cultures.

I am talking with Keri Flood, the Rothesay Recreation & Communications Coordinator, about events that are happening in her community.

For more information:

Fundy Winterfest 2024 in Rothesay

Guided Snowshoeing in Rockwood Park

Grand Bay Westfield – Feb. 24

Mar 2 – Various activities in Hampton

Look up Fundy Winterfest 2024 on Facebook for more details.

Mark J Brewer, Host

[00:00.000 --> 00:29.960] I am Mark the New Brunswick Traveler and here we talk about New Brunswick Stuff. There's so many great wonderful treasures and natural resources here that we can experience from the Bay of Fundy to Mount Carlton to all of the various things that are in between. This week's episode features Fundy Winterfest 2024. [00:29.960 --> 00:56.960] Which involves the six communities of Ross A. Kaspamsis, Hampton, St. John, Grand Bay Westfield and Fundy St. Martins. They are joining together for the six week long event that starts February 1, where the people celebrate and embrace winter as an opportunity to connect across generations, communities, classes and cultures. [00:56.960 --> 01:10.960] Looking forward to talking more with an individual from Ross A. and about the specific events that they have. So for now, let's get started. [01:11.960 --> 01:26.960] I'm happy to have Carrie Flood with me today. She is the Ross A. Recreation and Communications Coordinator and I'm really exciting. Carrie, to have you here. Welcome to N.B. Traveler. [01:26.960 --> 01:31.960] Thanks for having me. I'm happy to be here and to talk about all things Winterfest. [01:31.960 --> 01:43.960] Well, that's exactly what we want to talk about specifically about the things that are happening there in Ross A. So just sort of give me a background and a little bit of an overview of what's going on there. [01:43.960 --> 01:51.960] Sure. So Fundy Winterfest is a six week long event from February 1 until the end of March break, so March 10th. [01:52.960 --> 02:05.960] And it's an opportunity for people to get outdoors and celebrate all that there is to do in Winter. We're six communities that work together to bring this festival to life. [02:06.960 --> 02:22.960] Ross A is one of the six communities and we have lots of events planned. We tried to do things that are accessible and available to people of all ages and all abilities and removing barriers such as cost and things like that. [02:22.960 --> 02:26.960] So most of our events are absolutely free for everyone to enjoy. [02:26.960 --> 02:43.960] So we kicked things off last Thursday, which was February 1st with our first Winter speaker series. So every Thursday night from February 1st until March 7th, we have a different speaker who comes in on a different topic. [02:43.960 --> 02:54.960] So last week we had Boris come in who is from Ukraine and he talked to us all about the Ukrainian culture and traditions and he's actually a musician as well. [02:54.960 --> 02:58.960] So it was a really great topic and we enjoyed having him there. [02:58.960 --> 03:08.960] This week on Thursday, we have Chroma and B is coming to discuss allyship and inclusion 101. So we're really looking forward to that. [03:08.960 --> 03:14.960] And then the other four speaker series we have, we have a local summer lee Craig penny. [03:14.960 --> 03:20.960] He's going to come and talk to us about the many faces of sparkling wine. So that's a little wine tasting. [03:20.960 --> 03:27.960] We have Jacqueline McLean from Solve Your Deaths who's going to come and speak to us about personal financing. [03:27.960 --> 03:36.960] Tina Sharapova is a art meditation coach. She's going to come and talk about relaxation and meditation through art. [03:36.960 --> 03:46.960] And our last one is Don O'Dell from CMHA New Brunswick going to come and talk about the positive attitude thinking and self talk. [03:46.960 --> 03:52.960] So we have a really great lineup of speakers this year and we're really looking forward to welcoming people. [03:52.960 --> 03:59.960] Again, it's a free information session. They all take place at the Rossay Town Hall 70 Hampton Road. [03:59.960 --> 04:06.960] And we just asked people bring a non perishable food item as we're collecting to donate to the KV food basket. [04:06.960 --> 04:08.960] What's going on outside that? [04:08.960 --> 04:19.960] So this Wednesday is our first special event at our outdoor skating rink. So every Wednesday in February, we have something different for people to try. [04:19.960 --> 04:29.960] This year we partnered with Paris sport New Brunswick and they're coming down and bringing ice sledges for people to try pair ice hockey. [04:29.960 --> 04:35.960] So from 6.30 to 7.30 this Wednesday, people can come and give that sport a try. [04:35.960 --> 04:44.960] Then next week we have a glow in the dark skate. This is one of our most popular events of the year. We have hundreds of people come out. [04:44.960 --> 04:52.960] We have black light ice paint that we put down on the ice surface and then we have black lights that light them up. [04:52.960 --> 04:57.960] We have glow sticks. We have a face painter who comes and does glow in the dark face paint. [04:57.960 --> 05:07.960] And it's just a really fun event. People love to glow in the dark. So we encourage people to either wear white or your bright neon so that you can stand out in the dark. [05:07.960 --> 05:21.960] So that's a really fun event. The next one, we have a Disney and Marvel skating night. So we encourage people to come in costumes and you can take pictures with your favorite Marvel and Disney characters. [05:21.960 --> 05:28.960] And then the last Wednesday in February, the St. John's Sea dogs are coming out to skate with everybody on the ice. [05:28.960 --> 05:31.960] And I believe Fleaburn is going to make an appearance. [05:31.960 --> 05:40.960] And the fun thing about this event is if you wear your favorite hockey jersey, you are entered to win a signed Sea dogs jersey to take home. [05:40.960 --> 05:47.960] So what's happening on Saturdays then? Yeah, so this Saturday is our main family event. [05:47.960 --> 05:52.960] It's called the winter carnival on the common and it's from 2 to 4 p.m. [05:53.960 --> 06:05.960] And all the activities are free for people to enjoy. They take place outside on the Ross a common as well as inside the school that's right next door Ross a park middle school and inside the cafeteria. [06:05.960 --> 06:15.960] So you can come and go for a skate on the common. We have River and Trail outdoor company who are coming with snow shoes. If you want to give snowshoeing a try. [06:16.960 --> 06:25.960] We have a tractor and trolley ride that takes you around the common. That's always a popular activity. You can come and get your face painted get a balloon animal made. [06:25.960 --> 06:33.960] We have hot chocolate. The first condo point scouting group is going to be there and having a bonfire so you can come and roast some marshmallows. [06:33.960 --> 06:42.960] And of course we'll have hot chocolate there to warm you up. So that's this Saturday, a very 10th from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Ross a common. [06:43.960 --> 06:49.960] Now my understanding is snow shoes can be rented free if arrangements are made ahead of time. [06:49.960 --> 07:00.960] Yes. So one thing that we started during covid when we weren't able to get everybody together in person is we looked at doing some more passive activities that people could do on their own. [07:01.960 --> 07:12.960] So we partnered with River and Trail outdoor company and purchased some snow shoes and they house them at their store. So they are located at 133 Hampton Road. [07:12.960 --> 07:27.960] So you do need to call ahead to make your reservation but there's free adult and youth snow shoes that you can rent and you can take them out to any of our local trails and then just return them the next day at their store. [07:27.960 --> 07:39.960] So we're this has been more and more popular every year. Once people are finding out about it, we have lots of interest in people renting these snow shoes and taking them out on our groomed trails. [07:39.960 --> 07:44.960] Well, what's this thing called a Bruski's and Frosty's event. [07:45.960 --> 08:02.960] We started last year. We partnered with the town of Qaspam says we've been trying to think for a while how to involve the business community in our Winterfest celebration and we came up with this idea of a little, I guess, a food and beverage tour in in KV. [08:02.960 --> 08:14.960] So we've partnered this year with 12 local food and beverage businesses. And what it is is there's a map that you can pick up at any of the 12 locations or at the Ross say or Qaspam says town halls. [08:14.960 --> 08:29.960] And if you go to these businesses, you can and you purchase a food or bed beverage, you get a stamp. And if you collect a stamp from each of the 12 locations, you are entered into a draw worth over $1,000. [08:29.960 --> 08:43.960] So we have a Yeti cooler as well as a $50 gift card from each of the 12 businesses that are in the grand prize. So we had about 70 people who participated in the first year. [08:43.960 --> 08:52.960] We're thinking it's going to be a lot more this year. People really enjoy getting out supporting local and trying maybe some some places that they haven't been before. [08:53.960 --> 09:03.960] Now this isn't just restricted to citizens of Ross say and Qaspam says so is it? No, every everything that we're offering in Ross say is completely open to anybody. [09:03.960 --> 09:14.960] We have people who come and visit from Fredericton or Monkton or anywhere. It doesn't matter where you're from come and enjoy the activities that we have to offer in our in our community. [09:15.960 --> 09:33.960] And one additional thing, Kerry, where will I find winner Waldo? Yes, another thing that we we got started during COVID. We we wanted to make our trails more interactive and what is a way to get people to explore all of our trails. [09:34.960 --> 09:48.960] So winter Waldo is hiding in all five of our trails. And if you see him and take a picture with him and send it to us, you are entered into win prize as well. So he has been spotted 10 times in our trails. [09:48.960 --> 09:56.960] So we have five different trails that you can explore. And every time you see him, take a picture and send him in for your chance to win. [09:56.960 --> 10:10.960] That is fantastic. Kerry, thank you so much for your time with us. And I'm looking forward to coming and trying to get all 12 of those places stamped so I can get into that draw. [10:10.960 --> 10:15.960] Awesome. Sounds good. Thanks, Mark. And have a great day. You too. [10:15.960 --> 10:35.960] In addition to those events that Kerry and I talked about, there's also one additional one in Rossay on Saturday, February the 24th from seven to nine o'clock in the evening, which is moonlight, snowshoe and hike and astronomy observation. [10:36.960 --> 10:46.960] That should be a lot of fun. Also on February 24th during the day at Grand Bay Westfield, they are having something in the afternoon. [10:46.960 --> 10:56.960] And on Saturday, March 2nd, the Hampton Community Bonfire will be taking place and there will be some snowshoeing events going on there. [10:56.960 --> 11:12.960] In Rockwood Park, there are some guided snowshoeing events four times during the Fundy Winterfest. All of that information is on the show notes and I hope that you can participate and enjoy. [11:15.960 --> 11:25.960] It's been a real joy talking to you today and I hope you have a wonderful week. Thank you for listening and go and give a comment. [11:25.960 --> 11:32.960] Give a rating and help me to make this even a better podcast. Transcription results written to '/home/forge/transcribe3.sonicengage.com/releases/20240210005758' directory