Gather Local Market launches first-ever Frost & Fire Festival

Gather Local Market in Saskatoon is preparing for the launch of its first-ever winter festival.

The Frost & Fire Festival is the brainchild of Adrea Prop, the market’s interim executive director.

“I think everyone’s used to seeing us with the farmers’ market tents outside, but we’re also inside year-round, and I think that’s something that we’re still trying to let people know about,” Propp said in an interview with 650 CKOM.

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“Let’s embrace our winter season!”

The two-week festival runs from Wednesday to Sunday at the River Landing market, and returns from January 22-26.

Adrea Prop, Gather Local Market’s interim executive director, said the festival aims to embrace the prairie winter. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

On the first week’s agenda are activities like snowshoeing and fireside storytelling, with a focus on Indigenous culture.

“We actually went out to Wanuskewin, and they welcomed us with such warm, open arms,” Propp recalled.

“They connected us with some people that they thought would be a good fit for what we’re doing, and we’ve really just taken the ball and gotten it rolling from there.”

The festival aims to embrace the prairie winter with features like a crokinole ice rink, voyageur games, and an Indigenous makers’ market.

A crokinole ice rink, voyageur games, and an Indigenous makers’ market will all be featured at the first-ever Frost & Fire Festival. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

Propp said the response so far shows that the community has been looking for an event like this one.

“And why wouldn’t we want to showcase this rich culture we have here? Especially in our neighborhood. What a perfect place to really highlight the artists, the storytellers, and we’re doing bannock classes,” Propp said excitedly.

“We’re just really excited to try it out here, and hopefully the community wants to come out and enjoy it with us.”

The warm weather this week won’t stop the festival activities from taking place, although Propp said they may have to make some changes if the snow and ice melts away.

“I’m imagining potentially over 100 kids playing outside on a two-degree, slushy day out there. I’m kind of anticipating maybe my janitorial team is going to have a bigger mess to clean up with all the mud coming inside,” laughed Propp.

“But, you know what, when I was a kid, half of the fun was being covered in mud at the end of the day and just getting your hands dirty. That’s part of the charm of a festival like this is. It could be really cold and you need to bundle up, or we could actually have really warm weather that’s just gonna make it more comfortable for people to stay outside longer.”

The opening ceremonies begin Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., followed by fireside storytelling with traditional knowledge keeper Lyndon Linklater.