2017 Winterfest kick-off: Get inspired by winter in Canada!
HAMILTON, ON - January 18, 2017 - The City of Hamilton invites the public to celebrate the launch of the 2017 Hamilton Winterfest program! A Kick-Off event will be held at Pier 8, 47 Discovery Drive on Saturday, February 4th, from 1 to 4 pm.
At a time of year when many are tempted to hibernate at home, Hamilton’s Winterfest, running from February 4 to 20, 2017, encourages all Hamiltonians to get out, connect with others, and celebrate the beauty of the winter season.
Event highlights at Hamilton’s premier winter celebration
For Canada 150 festivities, the family-friendly Winterfest Kick-Off event celebrates winter, Canada-style – with outdoor skating, warming food and drinks, diverse music and performances, and hands-on activities. All activities are free, with the exception of skate rental fees and refreshments.
Music & performance
- Fun and funky vintage funk and soul, Afro-Brazilian music, and surf rock performed live and spun by local DJs
- Opening Ceremony featuring Syrian performance troupe Yasmeen Alsham (‘Jasmine of Syria’)
- Hilarious 5-time Canadian Comedy Award Winner Dave Brennan presenting “The Big Book of Forgotten and Fragile Canadian History” as a travelling roadside huckster in the Waterfront Trust Centre Theatre
- Roaming and interactive Sesqui Creatures hailing from different mysterious provinces
Hands-on activities
- A Winterfest Tent Village beside the skating rink featuring free crafts, snowman selfies, and other family-friendly programming
- A Marshmallow Roasting Station run by local Scouts Canada members
- Hammer Hoppers keeping visitors warm by teaching vintage dance styles
- A Pop-Up Adventure Playground run by Earth Day Canada & interactive sports presented by the North American Indigenous Games
- ‘The Art of Nature’ collaborative art piece using materials found in the Canadian wild – from river rocks to boughs and branches
Williams’ Fresh Café will be outside serving chili and hot chocolate by the skating rink.
Welcome Inn Community Centre’s Food Bank will be on hand to collect cash and non-perishable food donations in the Pier 8 Parking Lot. For more information, visit www.welcomeinn.ca
About Hamilton Winterfest
The Kick-Off event is hosted to draw attention to the Winterfest program, which runs February 4 to 20, 2017 and features a strong roster of Family Day events. This year’s program includes more than 50 events taking place across the city including neighbourhood winter gatherings, theatre performances, heritage and recreation programming and much more.
For more information on the Winterfest program and Kick-Off event, please visit www.hamiltonwinterfest.ca.