The Travelling Maple Leaf

Add some fun to the blue prairie winter at the Frost Festival in Regina Saskatchewan. From snow sculptures to live music this festival is a great reason to venture into the cold and get some sunshine. The Frost Festival is divided into four different hubs across the city that each offer fun and exciting activities and events. The four hubs at Frost 2023 were the REAL, Wascana, Downtown, and Warehouse hubs. To learn more about the completely free Frost hubs at Victoria Park and Wascana, continue reading!

Frost @ Victoria Park:

Marvel at gorgeous snow and ice creations while soaking up the sunshine when visiting the Victoria Park Frost Hub. Nestled in the Downtown area of Regina, Victoria Park provides a perfect venue for some winter fun. These sculptures and creations were fun to look at and take pictures with. The Igloos were all made from different ice blocks that varied in size, shape, and color. In addition, a beautiful outdoor rink at City Square is located at this hub for even more frozen family fun and memories. Also, Frost After Dark included promotions at several fun downtown pubs which promotes the support of local businesses and adds to the fun of Frost. Overall, the Downtown Hub has something for everyone and creates fun experiences for the entire family.

Live Music

The Victoria Park Frost Hub offered several different local musical acts and bands. Some of the bands that performed included Alyssa & The Try Tones, Blu Beach Band, and King for a Day. When I attended the Victoria Park Hub I watched Six String Kings perform and they were fantastic. It was clear that these performers loved being on stage and sharing their music. I highly recommend attending an event where Six String Kings performs as they had the entire crowd engaged and singing along. In addition to fantastic performers, there were free hot chocolates to enjoy while listening to the live music. Listening to the upbeat music and dancing along with your family created a fun and calm atmosphere that solidified the importance of family and gathering. This atmosphere coupled with the other beautiful attractions and art displays made for a lovely winter afternoon.

Art Installations

When you enter the Frost Hub at Victoria Park you walk along a path filled with artwork from local artists. These beautiful and moving pieces cause you to slow down and reflect on the artwork. As you walk further into the park there are large displays of more beautiful and thoughtful artwork. This artwork coupled with the gorgeous sculptures and structures that surround the park provides a picturesque experience. In addition to these paintings, there were fun art installations around the park. One of the most notable pieces was the ChatterBox installation. This structure had colored pieces that reflected light on the thought-provoking questions carved into the wood on the inside of the structure. This art installation aims to spark meaningful conversation. Not only were these art installations beautiful, but they were also thoughtful and interesting. Adding to the cultural experience of Frost was the Indigenous Storytelling that created a fun and educational environment for all attendees.

Frost @ Wascana: Sleigh Rides, Skating, & Fire Pits.

The Wascana Hub offered sleigh rides around the Regina Legislative Building. This activity was enjoyable for all ages as it offered a fun and different outdoor winter activity. Although, lines were very common for the sleigh rides given their popularity. So I suggest arriving earlier in the day for a fun experience before becoming too cold. However, if you did get chilly there were several warming stations with firepits located around the park. In addition to providing warmth, the smell of a wood-burning fire fills the air with nostalgia and a feeling of comfort. Also included at the Wascana Hub amongst other exciting activities was a small skating area. A section of Wascana Lake was cleared to create a fun experience for the entire family. This hub was family-friendly, not too crowded, and overall, very enjoyable.

Conclusion

Overall Frost is a fun way to spend a weekend during the cold Saskatchewan winter. Both the Victoria Park and Wascana Hubs were fun, family-friendly, and interesting. This festival certainly brings life and excitement to the cold which makes it a great way to get outside and active in the winter. I highly recommend attending Frost in the future!

Disclaimer: I can only attest to my personal experiences and I am therefore not liable for any negative experiences you may encounter.