Page 24, January 21, 1979 - Sunday News

outdoor excitement. . Snow
and ice are definitely in as
thousands and thousands
more .discover the

exhilaration of winter sports..

Indicative ofthis trend is -
the growing popularity. of. ©
in com-"

winter carnivals in
fpunities. favored by snow
and invigorating weather —

- Winter: in B.C. has come.
into its own as-a, season for ©

4

- winner will go to Ottawa to -
woftld .

such. as “im southeastern, -

_ central and northern B.C.
These Carnivals are mostly
. Held in February '— a month
once, considerd the bleakest
of the year. Now in com-
munities such as Prince
George, Vernon, Kimberley
and Smithers, February is a
_month for celebration’ and
fun, zany events like snow

‘golf and underwater ping- -

pong, ~
competitions that include
alpine and nordic skiing, ice
sailing, dog
snowmobiling, curling,
snowshoeing and hockey.

Forthcoming major
carnivals: include the
Kelowna Snowfest, Jan. 18-
21; Griz Days ’79, Fernie,
Feb. 2-4; Northern B.C.
Winter -Games, . Smithers,
Feb. 2-4; the Vernon Winter
Carnival, Feb. - 2-11; the
Bavarian Winterfest,
Kimberley, Feb. ‘7-11; the

and a wealth of

sledding,..

Mardi-Gras of Winter, *

Prince George, Feb. 9-19;
the Penticton Mid-Winter
Breakout, Feb, 9-17, the Lac
La Hache Winter Carnival,
Feb. 16-18; and the
Mackenzie Winter. Carnival,
March 3-4.

Noteworthy and special
‘winter happenings are the
Gold Rush Dog Sled
Championship in Quesnel,
Jan. 27-28; the Cariboo
Cross-Country Ski
Marathon, 100 Mile House
and Lac La Hache, Feb. 2-3;
the Wells Snowmobile Meet,
Feb. 10-11; the World
Championship Snowball
Tournament, Wells, Feb. 24-
25; and the Trappers
Rendezvous, Fort Nelson,
March 4-5.

Vernon's carnival, now in
its 19th year, is the oldest in
B.C., and has grown to be
the largest winter festival in
Western Canada. It opens
with a parade, Feb. 2, and
over its 10 days features dog
sled races, curling bonspiels,
skiing events, a pee wee
invitational hockey tour-
nament, dances and a
variety of other events.

Only four years old, the
Prince George Mardi-Gras
is one of the wackiest and
fastest-growing festivals. Its
world ¢hampionship snow
golf tournament” draws

pe ople from all over Canada

than 100 teams from the

- canes‘instead of a ball and a

.skating and speed skating

Try the carnival. circuit

and the U.S. and has become
‘so popular that three other.

cities — Red Deer, Ottawa |

and Minneapolis, Minn. —
have: expressed interest. in
hosting. ‘the world cham-
pionship this year. Con-
sequently, Prince George
will-chold a regional tour-
nament this year, and its
compete in the
championship.

A form of baseball in the
snow called “over-the-line-
snowball” jis another big
event at the Mardi-Gras. It is
billed as another world
championship event and it is
expected to attract more

U.S. and Canada.

- Snow croquet is being
introduced this year. It will
utilize beach balls and white

mallet. Besides

_ more

madcap activities such as |

snow bowling, knurdling and
underwater ping-pong and
hockey, the Mardi-Gras will
offer many competitions of
the familiar variety, in-

cluding nordic and alpine ski —

races, . motorcycle
snowmobile races,

and
figure

exhibitions, dog sled races,

hockey tournaments, curling |

bonspiels, and trap and
turkey shoots.

Well-known among B.C.
winter festivals is the
Kimberley Winterfest, set in
that city’s decidedly
Bavarian atmosphere. With
the ski area just five minutes
from downtown Kimberley,
this festival is long on alpine
frolics. Parades, dances,
fireworks, kite flying,
snowmobiling are some of
the activities featured over
the four days.

Fernie’s Griz Days are
climaxed by “Snolympics”,
which will consist of a
pancake breakfast, flea.
market, loggers sports,
snowshoe races, ski_ hill
activities, hang gliding,
snowmobile races, outdoor
skating, a black powder
shoot, and the creation of
ice sculptures. It opens Feb.
2 with a torchlight parade
followed by a dance.

The two Okanagan cities
of Kelowna and Penti¢ton
are scenes for two more
popular festivals, the
Snowfest and the Mid-
Winter Breakout.

The three-day Snowfest
features a parade, a casino,
dances, snowmobile cross-
country races, downhill
skiing, a fish derby, a cross-

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country ski race and a polar
bear dip in Okanagan Lake.

The Breakout, an eight-
day celebration, boasts,
among, numerous events, a
torchlight parade, a giant
slalom challenge, a fun day
downtown, sweetheart
‘ball, ice boating, hockey
games, cross-country skiing
and snowmobile events, a
four-wheel drive race, a car
rally, a talent night, a table
tennis tournament, a casino
night and a family skating
party.

WV community day

A distinctive event at the
Lac La Hache Winter
Carnival is its outhouse
races. Among its other
events are snowmobile
races, cross-country ski
competitions, ice fishing and
dances.

* The Mackenzie Winter
Carnival highlights dog sled
races along with events in
snowshoeing, skiing,
snowmobiling, curling. It
will also host a pee wee
tournament of hockey.

plan in the works

“With the same strong
community support we
received last year I believe

that we can look forward to.

another great day for all.”
says school trustee Mark
Sager, appointed last week
as chairman of West
Vancouver's 1979 Com-
munity Day committee.

The celebration, which
takes place this year on June
2, will include the traditional

colorful parade, en-
terlainment, games, arts and
crafts, food and a beer

_ garden

The committee will be
getting down to work durnng
the first week of February.
Sager -- who is hoping for a
great number of — neigh-
borhood floats this year -

has invited anyone who
would like to get involved in
some way to phone him

evenings at 926-7004

THE SNOW BEAR of Prince George reigns over the annual Mardi-Gras of winter.

Towers

Restaurant

Fully Licensed
European & North American Cuisine

Filet Mignon

«a
Lobst

ma

er S@Io

Full course meat including soup or salad

Sunday Brunch

Fresh truit plate & nome made muffins
Special menu tor the kids

180 East 2nd

at St. Georges

North Vancouver .

980-1510

(Reservations)

Twin Towers

3rd Street at St. Georges North Vancouver
Accommodation for residents 55 years and over offering studio and one-bedroom units, including
sion, power, heat and light. In addition.
ge terrace social rooms, library Ideal location

and visit our turnished display suites For further in
am &5pm daily

wail to wail, drapes, stove and fridge Rent includes cablevi

tor your enjoyment are residents’ tearoom with lar
within walking distance of SeaBus Come
formation call 988 0611 between 10

Otlice located at t72E Pnd St

Sutte 206
Commercial space also avatlable trom 260 sq tt

Call John Atkinson 321 1241