Vita to host festive fun

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This article was published 10/01/2017 (2661 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Vita and the surrounding area will celebrate the season and Ukrainian New Year’s Eve with a new winter festival this weekend.

The Vita and Area Winter Festival runs Jan. 14 to 15.

Jerry Lubiansky, festival co-chair and RM of Stuartburn councillor, said this is the festival’s first year. The idea for the festival was to have a local dog sled race and an event to coincide with Ukrainian New Year’s Eve, also known as Malanka.

Sled dog races will run both Saturday and Sunday. Races with teams of 10 dogs begin at 11 a.m. and races with six dogs begin at 1 p.m. Races take place in a field just west of Vita. Lubiansky said signs will indicate the location.

The festival will hold a Malanka dinner and dance Saturday evening at the Vita Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 for dinner and dance and $10 for dance only.

The festival kicks off with a $5 pancake breakfast served Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Vita Friendship Centre.

A cribbage tournament begins Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. at the Vita Friendship Centre.

Kid’s activities run from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. behind the curling rink. Activities include making maple taffy and bannock as well as snowshoe and two by four races.

Bundle up and hop on a sleigh as it rides around town from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Slide down the toboggan hill behind the curling rink throughout the day. Free skating runs Sunday afternoon from noon to 4 p.m.

Warm up at the community bonfire behind the curling rink from noon to 6 p.m.

A hockey tournament runs throughout Saturday. Walk through the vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday inside the arena. The curling rink is open all day for ages to curl.

A beer garden in a heated tent on the south side of the curling rink will offer an 18-plus event Saturday from 6 p.m. to midnight and costs $5. Music will be played by a DJ.

Don’t forget to make time during the busy Saturday evening to look up at the sky and catch the fireworks display at 7 p.m.

Last fall, the Vita and Area Winter Festival received a matching grant of up to $10,000 from the provincial government’s tourism fund to put on the festival.

For a full list of events and times, visit the Vita & Area Winter Festival Facebook page.