After three years, Pembertonians are starting to notice a pattern.
Winterfest, which used to take place at some point over the season—all contingent on when One Mile Lake would freeze—has found a consistent date on New Year's Eve.
"I think there's some consistency now. People are like, 'Oh right, we get to finish the year this way," says Carlee Cindric, who helps organize the winter celebration.
The one-day festival runs from 2 to 8 p.m. at the Pemberton & District Community Centre with activities mainly for families to enjoy. This year, that includes face painting, kids' crafts, plenty of hot dogs, s'mores, and pizza, as well as a dance party, hosted by Ira Pettle. (And it's all free!)
New additions this year include an aerial silks performance by Treeline Aerial, a Cheese! Box photo booth, and parking lot drop-in hockey underground at the centre.
"[The aerial silks had] been on my radar for a couple of years, but we never had the budget or capacity to do it," Cindric says. "It will take place in the Great Hall—everything will—which has super high ceilings. It will be an ambience performance throughout the afternoon. I'm excited for it."
Pick-up hockey will likewise take place throughout the afternoon. "It's pick-up, drop-in, so when you come, throw yourself in," she adds. "Sticks, balls, and nets are all available."
Finally, there will also be family dance lessons at 4 p.m., courtesy of the Mountain Movement Dance Collective.
The fun will culminate in an early countdown for kids before the fireworks at the Signal Hill Elementary School field at 8 p.m.
"I hope people come out," Cindric says. "We've tried to make it a bit bigger and more exciting this year, leading into 2020. There's excitement around that."
While Winterfest is geared towards younger kids and their families, local teens can mark their calendars for Saturday, Jan. 25 when organizers are partnering with the youth centre to host a silent disco dance.
"That's Winterfest's way of targeting that youth market," Cindric says.
Meanwhile, they're still looking for volunteers to help out on Dec. 31 with day-of activities.
For more information, or to reach them, visit pembertonwinterfest.com.
NYE for the adults
The Pemberton Hotel is hosting a New Year's Eve bash this year—and the theme sounds a little out of this world.
"Hop on our ultra-modern monorail to go back to the future as we warp you forward through time to the world of 2020 that you might have imagined to be true back when you were daydreaming in your youth," the description reads.
Think robots, flying cars, and a few alien invaders. The official title of the party? 2020: A New Year's Eve Space Odyssey.
To that end, Oliver Deshop and J to the U will provide "an interstellar soundtrack of supernova sounds and big bangin' beats to keep you orbiting around the speakers with the gravitational pull of a booty-shaking black hole."
If that sounds good to you, tickets are $25 at Mount Currie Coffee Company in Pemberton. The fun starts at 9 p.m.
