THUNDER BAY – Leah Blaisdell loves a challenge.
So, when the seven-and-a-half-year old arrived at Fort William Historical Park on Saturday, the opening day of the return of the Voyageur Winter Carnival, she made a beeline to her favourite activity – the snow maze.
“I was looking forward to the ice and snow maze. It was really fun,” said the youngster, who journeyed north of the border with her family from Grand Marais, Minn. to check out the three-day-long festival, returning for the first time since 2020 due to COVID-19 restrictions.
“There were so many dead ends, I couldn’t find my way out. But I found my way out and then I did it again.”
Crowds started pouring into the Fort at 11 a.m. when the carnival kicked off. The event features a whole host of things to do, from the snow snake and curling, to carriage rides on Saturday and Sunday, to tubing and a chance to fire a musket.
Eleven-year-old Alexander Pleson, who stopped to test his skill at the snow snake, had the same plan of attack as Leah.
“I’m really looking forward to the snow maze later today. I once went in a corn maze at a different place and it was super fun, so I’m looking forward to going in a maze again,” he said.
“And we’re meeting up with our auntie too.”
Fort William Historical Park general manager Patrick Morash said there’s a little something for everyone and it’s great to be back.
“Prior to the pandemic the Voyageur Winter Carnival was always a big deal for the Fort. It was a great opportunity early in the season to get the community out and have some fun in the winter,” Morash said.
“We’ve got just a ton of activities today for kids of all ages, including adults right up to 100 and beyond. We’ve got the big sliding hill behind me and there’s a smaller sliding hill on the site. There’s a snow maze, there’s maple syrup sugaring, there’s games and there’s snowshoeing. If you can’t find something to do today, you can’t find something to do.”
Conservative MPP Kevin Holland (Thunder Bay-Atikokan), was one of the first guests to arrive at the provincially funded park, and said it’s great to seen the carnival up and running again.
“The opportunity for families to get together again after two years of having to be cancelled is just fantastic … There’s something for everybody,” Holland said.
The carnival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors and youth and children five and younger are free.
