Embracing the winter chill at Sunnidale Winterama
Long before there was a Clearview Township, there was Sunnidale Winterama. Last year, the Greatest Show on Snow celebrated its 50th anniversary, and it’s still going strong.
Event chairperson Adam Pearson took over the reigns last fall from long-time chair Chuck Arrand.
“Chuck looked at me and said Winterama needed some new blood, so here we are,” said Pearson.
He said he recognizes that they are big shoes to fill.
After Pearson moved to the area from Brampton, he was unaware of Winterama. A few years ago he came upon an accident on Airport Road, and noticed the Winterama sign while he was stopped. Since then, the carnival has become a real family affair.
“My wife and kids started volunteering a couple years ago,” said Pearson. “My daughter wore the Winterama Willie penguin suit for the last two years, and this year my son takes it over.”
This year’s Winterama will take place Feb. 6-8. The event kicks off with the Sunnidale Firefighter Association’s spaghetti dinner at the Legion on Friday night. At the dinner, Arrand will emcee the annual beard contest with prizes for best overall beard, best Santa beard, and best newly started beard.
After dinner, the focus shifts to New Lowell Recreation Park for the annual Burning of the Green. Pearson says roughly 230 Christmas trees are assembled to fuel the fire.
“It’s a pile about 20 feet long by six feet wide, and six feet high,” he said. “We expect it will burn for about four hours before the firefighters put it out. We’ll have hot chocolate and popcorn throughout and then fireworks starting at 8 p.m.”
The evening wraps up with a trivia night at the Legion.
Saturday morning kicks off with a pancake and sausage breakfast before the parade, which begins at 11 a.m. This year’s theme is Winter Olympics. Arrand said 23 floats have already registered.
“The forecast is calling for chilly temperatures, but not frostbite territory,” said Arrand. “This is a unique winter celebration where people just pile on as many layers as needed and come out to enjoy the parade.”
Bed races, following the parade, are always a spectator favourite.
There will be a variety of children’s games and activities at the pavilion, including a giant inflatable slide. Arrand says the slide will replace the snow mountain which was a hit in previous years.
“Apparently the township had some concerns about liability with kids playing on the enormous pile of snow,” he said.
The butter tart competition at the Legion has been expanded to include fruit tart, custard and mini-cheesecake categories. Winners are announced Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m., tarts will be available for purchase.
Sunday begins with another big breakfast at the Legion, before riders head off for the Morgan Taylor Snowmobile Run organized by the Barrie Snowmobile Club and named in honour of long-time president.
Winterama buttons, at $2 each, are available at multiple locations including Clearview Auto, the Creemore Coffee Company and theNew Lowell Legion.
For a detailed list of events, visit www.discoverclearview.ca.
