Flin Flon and Creighton’s largest annual winter event is back for another snowy session this weekend. The Bust the Winter Blues Festival is back and organizers are hoping some schedule moves could lead to higher attendance.
Several events that have been part of the festival for years, including the public skate at the Creighton Sportex, Kinettes Trivia Night at the Flin Flon Community Hall and others, will remain more or less unchanged. The differences start in earnest on Saturday with the Family Fun events.
The Family Fun programming and kids’ events, previously held at Flin Flon’s Rotary Wheel, will be moved to the Creighton Community Centre.
The reason for the move, according to recreation coordinator and event organizer Channa Senyk, is due to concerns about the cold and the Rotary Wheel not having functioning bathrooms in winter time.
“We’ve moved it to Creighton so we can go in and warm up - they have indoor bathrooms and we’re hoping it’ll be a bit warmer,” said Senyk.
“We’re using the parking lot there. The bonfire, the weiner roast, the traditional games, that’ll be out in the parking lot.”
Forecasts for the festival days have included high variances, with highs peeking above zero degrees Celsius but lows dropping down to as low as minus-18 - both well above and below normal March temperatures.
Other changes include the addition of a sliding party March 8 at the Flin Flon Ski Club chalet. Saturday night entertainment will also see a change, going from a Mardi Gras event to a family spaghetti supper and dance.
Senyk hopes this year’s Bust the Winter Blues will see more participants, leaning on the move of some events indoors as a selling point.
“We’re hoping to see an increased attendance this year by having it partially indoors. That's what we're hoping to see - more people coming out and taking part,” she said.
