Winterfest offers up weekend of family fun

You'll have to bundle up, but for the most part it would appear that this years Winterfest activities will be held under clear skies, just the kind of setting to celebrate the start of the holiday season.

Activities get underway on Friday with a wide range of events for families to take part in,  with works of art on display at the Museum of Northern BC to Christmas Tree decorating at the mall to displays of Gingerbread works of art at both the Mall and Cowpuccino's Coffee House.

The signature event of Friday night's Winterfest launch takes place at the Court House Grounds at 6 PM when the Festival of Lights takes place.

Leaving just enough time for those with tickets to make it to the Lester Centre and the 7:30 performance of Beauty and the Beast, night two of the three day run of this years presentation from Charles Hays Secondary.

Saturday features another packed day of events, starting with Breakfast with Santa at the Masonic Hall. 

The North Coast Artists' Cooperative can be found at the Museum of Northern BC Ceremonial Room from 10 to 5 PM, While a Craft and Gift Fair, with the Bouncy Castle in place for children takes place at the Civic Centre from 10 to 5.

The Santa Claus parade is scheduled for 11 AM on 3rd Avenue West, with Hot Chocolate available at Overwaitea following the parade.  Rainforest Books will offer up Christmas readings at 1 PM at their Third Avenue location.

The Civic Centre is open for free public skiing from 12:30-1:45, with admission by donation to the Food Bank, the Prince Rupert Rampage who spend some of their time on that very ice will be over at the Port's Interpretive Centre from1:30-3:30 available for photos with Santa by way of a donation to the Food Bank.

A Christmas Family Arts and Crafts and Games event is planned for the Museum of Norther BC from 1-4 PM.

You can keep some non perishable food available for a trip to The Earl Mah Aquatic Centre, as the pool offers up a Free Swim from 1:30-3:30 by way of donation.

The final showing of CHSS's Beauty and the Beast takes place at 2 PM as an afternoon matinee brings to an end this years presentation from the Secondary School's cast, crew and musicians.

6:30-8:30 is when you'll find many Rupertites on the waterfront taking in the Sailpast, music and Bonfire

8:15 is Fireworks time as the sky over the Harbour lights up in festive colours.

Following that, you can still catch the final two periods of Rampage hockey, as Prince Rupert takes on the Kitimat Ice Demons at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre.


Sunday's events offer up a WinterSong concert at 3 PM at the First United Church featuring the Prince Rupert Rotary Community Choir, while St. Paul's Lutheran Church is the host of Community Worship Service at 7 PM.

You can review some background on the weekend ahead here, with the full Winterfest agenda available from this page from Prince Rupert Special Events