75th Annual Winterama an outstanding success for the Penetanguishene Community

February 22, 2023 – Family Day Weekend has long been known to the Town of Penetanguishene as “Winterama Weekend”. This past weekend was no different as the Town of Penetanguishene hosted the 75^th Annual Winterama event, the oldest winter carnival in Ontario.

Although the forecast was chilly, there were no shortage of supporters and event participants. Town staff have recorded record-breaking numbers, making the 75^th milestone event one to remember!

A few notable statistics include;

• 31 Parade Floats
• 100+ Youth Arm Wrestling Participants
• 50 Cardboard Toboggan Teams
• Roughly 60 Volunteers
• 418 bowls of Pea Soup/Chili, selling out the event.
• 1500+ souvenir guides distributed.
• 4,000 buttons. Buttons were sold out by Sunday morning.

“The 75th celebration of Winterama was a huge success by all accounts.  Whether measured in attendance, activity registrations, feedback or smiles, the overall outcome of the 3 days of festivities surpassed our expectations.  Our primary goals were to bring our community and neighbours together in celebration of a nostalgic and local tradition, all while welcoming new visitors to experience what winter means to Penetanguishene.  We have been working hard to reintroduce old favourites as well as new activities to the event while ensuring that there is something for everyone and I believe that we achieved what we set out to do” Sherry Desjardins, Director of Recreation and Community Services.

An event of this magnitude is not possible without the support of our sponsors, volunteers, and organization partners that assist in hosting events. Barber and Haskill, Midland was a new sponsor this year who made the Friday Night fireworks event possible. Staff also work closely with local organizations, specifically, the Rotary Club of Penetanguishene who hosted the Parade and Polar Plunge, North Simcoe Rotaract who hosted the cardboard toboggan races in sponsorship with Tencorr Packaging, the Penetanguishene Lions Club who provided volunteers and hosted the Sunday Skate, and of course the Penetanguishene Centennial Museum and Friends of the Museum.

“Events like Winterama add extra magic to the community spirit and allow for some of the best opportunities to experience everything our community has to offer. Town staff worked diligently to ensure this Winterama was one to remember, I am thrilled to be Mayor for such a milestone year and can only imagine what next year will hold” said Mayor Doug Rawson.

Funding for this event was in partnership with the Government of Ontario.

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