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A perfect day for a horse-drawn sleigh ride

A fun day of  'road hockey

The final Saturday of the week-long Wiarton Willie Festival in Wiarton on the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario was exceptionally warm and sunny.

The Festival that began 55 years ago has grown from its one-day Groundhog prediction  to a week-long celebration that once again attracted thousands of people who came to take part in the festivities.

 Best friends, Nathan Sloss (L) & David Bringleson at the foot of 'Snow Mountain'

The day began in the early morning with a pancake breakfast followed up with a wide variety of day-long outdoor activities in Blue Water Park that overlooks Colpoy's Bay, an inlet of Georgian Bay.

Wiarton Willie was very popular with the young as they lined up to have their photos taken with him

The very young particularly enjoyed climbing the 'snow mountain' and sliding down its many twists and turns but it was  'kids of all ages' who lined up to clamber aboard the horse-drawn sleigh.  For some, including the adults, it was the first time they been on an old-fashioned sleigh ride.

Exquisite ice carvings that included a Wiarton Willie throne

While hockey is a natural winter sport in Ontario and a giant 'road hockey' game was played throughout the day,  the more unusual 'snow baseball games'  proved to be just as popular and even more fun as players tried to run in the deep snow.

In the large main tent, bands entertained the crowds who came in to warm up and take advantage of the various eateries who brought in their specialty foods from chili to pizza to chicken wings.

The main entertainment feature of the weekend, of course, was the long-awaited for, and sold-out, concert by Canadian super band, April Wine at the local arena.

The last weekend of the the 2011 Wiarton Willie Festival

Wiarton Willie needed a helping hand from Katie Ryan to get off the 'snow mountain with its many coloured dyes

Wiarton Willie, assistant Katie Ryan and Wiarton Mayor, John Close stroll around Blue Water Park

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Saturday, February 05, 2011