THUNDER BAY – Fort William Historical Park is adding a Northern Ontario first to its annual Voyageur Winter Carnival in February.
In additional to all the usual fun and festivities, the provincial park is introducing the Ice Dragon Boat Challenge on the frozen-over Kaministiquia River on the Family Day weekend.
The event will feature youth and adult categories, teams of 10 racing in specially designed dragon boats fitted with special ice blades, propelled by paddlers sporting ice pick paddles.
“As Northern Ontario’s premier entertainment park, Fort William Historical Park is always looking for new and exciting ways to expand its programming,” states Sergio Buonocore, FWHP’s general manager, in a release issued on Thursday.
“We are delighted to present Voyageur Winter Carnival and Northern Ontario’s inaugural Ice Dragon Boat Challenge supporting local organizations the United Way of Thunder Bay and the Lakehead Canoe Club.”
Registration is $500 per team and teams are required to collect an additional $500 in pledges. The deadline to register is Jan. 24.
The Voyageur Winter carnival is scheduled to run from Feb. 15 to Feb. 17.
Weekend passes are $20 for adults, $16 for students, seniors over 60 and youth aged six to 12. Children five and younger are free.
Daily passes are also available at $10 and $8.
Park officials are also looking for volunteers to help with the Ice Dragon Boat challenge or the carnival itself.
Phone 473-2344 or email [email protected] for more information.
