WinterShines festival kicks off this weekend in Saskatoon

The annual WinterShines festival will return this Saturday in Saskatoon.

WinterShines organizer Shad Ali said the festival will open with the Light Tipi at the River Landing amphitheatre. The kickoff will include songs and dances, Ali said, and burning sage will be brought to the site for blessings.

“The Light Tipi is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Ali said.

(WinterShines/Facebook)

The festival will feature ice crystal gardens at Friendship Park crafted by architect Don Greer, Ali said, as well as sculptures made from snow and ice by other artists.

“There is an amazing ice bench to sit on and get some photos taken,” Ali said, adding there are also features like an ice slide with carved dragons, and a “northern lights wall.”

On Saturday, the festival is hosting an igloo construction contest using colourful ice blocks.

“They’ll be building unique igloos using ice blocks and snow with their own creativity,” Ali said.

The igloos will be reviewed by judges, Ali added, and prizes will be awarded for best construction, design, and the people’s choice.

The igloo theme continues with the return of IglooFest, a giant inflatable igloo which Ali described as a staple of WinterShines. There will also be activities such as crafts, giant Jenga and an elite DJ party, the organizer added.

For those looking to warm up during the festival, Ali said the ever-popular soup cook-off at TCU place will start off with a novice competition on Sunday night and will finish with a faceoff between Sunday night’s winner and chefs from around the city.

Ali said the cook-off is the only event that requires a ticket at the festival.

On Feb 24, Ali said WinterShines will host a TeleMiracle preview concert.

“We will have some live performances, and it’s all outdoors down at the amphitheatre stage,” he said.

WinterShines runs until Feb 25.