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Despite blowing snow and the closure of Highway 21 on Saturday, the Ripley Winter Carnival was a success.

The weekend began with the costume skate Friday night at the Ripley Arena.

A good number of youngsters came dressed in a variety of outfits and then took part in some skating races.

• The youngest skater was Wade MacKay
• The youngest participant was Rhys Thompson
• The largest family participating belonged to Paul and Christine MacDonald
• The best valentine costume was worn by Avery Perrier

• The top costumes for Pre-school and Kindergarten were worn by: Jade Meyer, Rachel White, Emma MacDonald, Austin VanHardeveld, Trace Armstrong, Layne Irwin

• The top costumes for Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1 were worn by: Darren McDonnel, Alex MacDonald, Halle Armstrong, Kate Leppington and Eve Snobelen, Kaleb Meyer, Dean White

• The top costumes for Grades 2-3 were worn by: Sadie Pollock, Rhys Davis, Ashley MacDonald, Kyle Smeltzer, Kurtis Smeltzer, Cole Snobelen

• The top costumes for Grades 4-6 were worn by: Avery Perrier, Sydney Beishuizen, Calum Davis, Madison Beishuizen, Liam Kirkpatrick, Matthew Johnson

• Marley Martyn had the top costume for  Grades 7-8

Marley Martyn (L) and Brett McDonnel, 1, are birthday buds, both born on Sept. 25

Jacob Collings (L), 16, and Jake Fair, 12, cook and serve pancakes at the breakfast

Doug MacDonald had his team of horses, "Cole" and "Herc," on hand for people to take horse-drawn sleigh rides through the field behind the arena.

A handful of young people took in the hockey skills competition.

But the crowd was huge for the ice-painting afterwards. The youngsters were eagerly waiting off-side as the ice surface was divided into spaces and the paint set out. Then, they were off and running to cover the entire surface with colourful creations.

The carnival also included a euchre tournament, family bingo and several hockey games.

Top costume winners Avery Perrier (L), 9, Marley Martyn, Grade 8, and Sadie Pollock, 7

Serena Rutledge, 10, sings during the costume skate Friday night

Dave Charette demonstrates how to do the stick-handling drill in the hockey skills competition

Carson Rutledge, 8, tries his best at stick-handling

Peyton Howald, 7, shoots the puck at the Shooter Tutor

Connor Dixon, 11, skates as fast as he can in the relay

Kaitlyn Kirkconnell, 6, of Kincardine paints on the ice surface

Chloe (L), 2, and Makenna Kirkconnell, 4, of Kincardine decide what they're going to paint

Kate Leppington, 6, creates a masterpiece

Kayla Heinisch, 11, turns splattered paint into a work of art

Avery Perrier (L) and Madison Beishuizen, both 9, of Ripley, are decked out in costume Friday night



Eve Snobelen (L), 5, Halle Armstrong, 6, both of Ripley, and Kate Leppington, 6, of Kincardine, pose in their costumes



Alex MacDonald (L), 6, and Cole Snobelen, 7, of Ripley take part in the costume skate



Avery Gamble, 6, of Point Clark, enjoys her breakfast

Tanner (L), 10, and Hayli Charette, 12, crack the eggs



Taylor Pollard (L), 10, helps Brent Chatham stir the pancake mix



Deputy mayor Wilfred Gamble cooks the scrambled eggs



Eve Snobelen, 5, fires a shot at the Shooter Tutor



Quinn Martyn, 6, aims a shot at the Shooter Tutor



Kurtis Smeltzer, 8, jumps the hockey stick in a drill



Brooklyn Charette, 9, splatters paint on the ice



Evan John, 4, of Toronto creates artwork on the ice. He and his family were visiting his aunt, Angela Taylor, in Ripley

Samm Hodgins, 13, paints a colourful creation on the ice

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Sunday, February 13, 2011