REGINA — Frost Regina is ready and set to take over the Queen City for the next ten days, with a full spread of cold-weather celebration to get residents embracing the beauty of Saskatchewan winter.
The first-ever winter festival kicks off tonight at the public skating rink on Wascana Lake, with Hockey Night on Wascana dropping the puck for a three-on-three showcase game at 7 p.m.
A schedule full of free and ticketed events will continue until Feb. 13, hosted throughout the city at four designated Frost hubs: Wascana Centre, Regina Exhibition Association Limited, downtown at City Centre Square and in the Warehouse district.
“This is a new opportunity for residents and visitors of all ages to experience some joy and fun during the winter season, and create the first of many memories to come,” said Regina city councillor and co-organizer Lori Bresciani.
Organizers are hoping the festival draws attention to the tourism, culture and entertainment opportunities in Regina, even during the cold months of winter.
Mosaic Stadium has been converted into an outdoor skating rink to complement both the rinks on Wascana Lake and downtown in City Square, and all three will be the locations for the festival’s upcoming winter activities.
All kinds of outdoor sports attendees may be itching to try are set to take place, including outdoor skating either on Wascana Lake or at Mosaic Stadium, hockey, skiing, curling, broomball, crokicurl and even dog-sledding tours and snoga — that’s right, yoga in the snow.
There will also be a carved ice bar set up in the Warehouse district, serving locally brewed beers and adult hot chocolate perfect to enjoy while sitting around a custom fire pit, made specially by Saskatchewan Polytechnic students for Frost.
Lots of local artists will be showcasing their talents during the festival as well, including in ice carving demonstrations, art installations, and during the Frost After Dark series, which will feature a lineup of local bands, DJs and stand-up comedy show performing at downtown venues.
Indigenous storytelling events will take place throughout the week thanks to the Regina Public Library, and the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame has organized a meet-and-greet with Colleen Sostorics, three-time Olympic gold medalist in hockey.
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is planning on joining the winter fun, with a series of events planned in partnership with Sask Parks including snowshoeing in Wascana Park and informational sessions with conservation officers about ice-fishing, animal tracking and ecology.
Former Olympian Elvis Stojko is set to perform Frost on Ice at Mosaic Stadium alongside a group from Canadian Ice Dance Theatre, and country artist Dean Brody and alternative rock legends Big Wreck will also take the stage at REAL, with concerts set for Friday and Saturday on opening weekend..
Warming centres to escape the chill will be scattered throughout the hubs, said organizers, and for those looking to avoid the Saskatchewan cold, a selection of indoor events are also planned.
REAL will be home to an indoor light installation called Glow, as well as a marketplace hosting local vendors and their wares. The Science Centre and the RSM will have activities and programming for families, as well as Government House.
Roads surrounding Wascana Centre have already been barricaded for pedestrian use during the event, said provincial capital commission CEO Ryan Whippler.
“We've learned over the years that events with thousands of families and children don't necessarily stick to walkways, and the only way to minimize the risk of a traffic accident is to divert vehicles around the area,” said Whippler. “This also allows for a more enjoyable event for visitors and increased accessibility for those who need it."
Most of the festival’s packed schedule is free of admission, with the exception of events taking place at REAL, which require attendees to purchase a Frost day pass.
Frost Regina is an initiative made into reality due to several local organizations, including REAL, Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, Regina Warehouse Business District Improvement, the Provincial Capital Commission and the City of Regina, which approved $210,000 in funding to support the event.
Attendees are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather when attending any of Frost’s hubs, and to remember that if temperatures drop below -20C before windchill, outdoor activities may be cancelled.
Masks are also required at all indoor locations involved with the festival, per provincial health orders, and proof of vaccination or negative test will be needed at REAL and the Warehouse district events.
A full list of scheduled events and activities at all four hubs can be found online at frostyqr.ca.
