Gravenhurst Winter Carnival five days of fun Feb. 13-18

GRAVENHURST — Five days and nights of fun. That’s this year’s 2019 Gravenhurst Winter Carnival.

And Skokie has a ton of events to entertain everyone from Wednesday right through to Monday’s Family Day at the YMCA.

Buy a button and pick up a brochure.

Buy a button and pick up a brochure.

For full details, go to http://skokie.wixsite.com/gravenhurst/events

The fun kicks off with “Skokie Talks” at the Opera House, an evening of Ted Talks put on by Ignite, in which local 20 guest speakers getting five minute each to show some slide and talk about them.

Thursday night it’s the BIA’s Heat Up the Night, a downtown merchants initiative filled with horses, hot dogs, hot chocolate, fun and games.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday it’s the traditional events, from wing eating and all you can eat poutine, to doggie dashes, log-sawing and nail driving, the bed races (you don’t actually have to race to win prizes, there’s best-made bed etc.), polar dip and don’t eating at Gull Lake Rotary Park, lip-synching and dancing, Skokie’s Funland, Skokie’s birthday party, snow sculpture contest, vintage snowmobile display, plus the wreck-em race (Severn Bridge).

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Skokie (a.k.a. councillor Sandy Cairns) paid a visit to the pond hockey championships at the Muskoka Wharf Saturday to promote the carnival.

EVENTS:

(In alphabetic order)

  • All You Can Eat Poutine Bar 

Make your own poutine and enjoy all you can eat.

$10 with Button and $15 without.

  • Bed Races (main street)

Build a bed or borrow one of our beds and race your team as fast as you can on Muskoka Road!  Teams consist of 4 runners/pushers and 1 rider! Adult and Children teams welcome. Teams must register.

  • Demolition Derby

Come out and see the cars smash and crash for the top PRIZE!!!  Fun for the Whole family.  $ 5 with Button, $10 without.​

This year a youth class for ages 14-16 where they drive actual derby cars built to the same rules as the adults Derby cars. ( with a parent or guardians consent of course ) these should be exciting events and a sure way to get the kids involved. If they don’t want to build a car for the youth class they can purchase a ticket and take a chance on winning the right to drive one that has been built and will be raffled off.​ *This Event is held at the Severn Bridge Fairgrounds​

  • Doggie Dash (main street)
    Owners and pets compete to see which doggie races fastest to the finish line.  Owners call their pets and the dogs dash.
  • Donut Eating Contest (Gull Lake Rotary Park)

It’s not about quantity.. it’s about speed!  See how fast you can munch through a donut!  Children only.

  • Heat up The Night

Join the Gravenhurst BIA on Thursday February 14th in Historic Downtown Gravenhurst as we Heat Up the Night.​

Details for the evening: Horse Drawn Carriage rides by Twin Maple Farms with a Historical Tour by The Heritage Committee beginning in front of the Gravenhurst Opera House.

Complimentary Hot Dogs & Hot Chocolate in front of the Gravenhurst Opera House (while supplies last).

Cinnamon Cider, vegan treats and complimentary DIY Bath Salts & Sugar Scrubs at Shining Waters Soap Co.

Shop and Sip at the Gypsy Market Mews with complementary wine & chocolate

Classic Tea Leaf Readings at Tea Beards.​

  • Ignite

A series of short lectures given by local residents on a variety of topics chosen by each speaker.​

  • Lip Sync Battle

Brave individuals or groups take to the stage at Sawdust City Brewery to compete with their best lip syncing and dancing performance.​

  • Log-Sawing

In this tribute to our Heritage, see how quickly you can saw off a log slab!  Entrants compete based on age and gender! Adults and Children welcome.​

  • Rotary Nail Driving

How fast can you hammer a nail? Try your speed and strength at this competition. All ages. Entrants compete based on age and gender.  Adults and Children welcome.​

  • Polar Bear Dip

It may be winter, but why not still enjoy the beautiful lakes!  All ages welcome to participate (with registration) in this cold and quick favourite. On site change and warm up facility provided.​

  • Skokie’s Birthday Party

Join Skokie as he celebrates his birthday!  Children are welcome to enjoy fun and games and even a piece of cake too.​

  • Skokie’s Funland

An outdoor, interactive compilation of activities organized by the District of Muskoka’s popular EarlyON program that specializes in fun, stimulating and educational activities geared towards pre-school children but that are enjoyed by all ages.

This is the first year for this exciting event and it is going to include the following games & activities​; snow painting, snowball toss, giant connect 4, frozen bubbles, penguin race, bucket ice fishing plus large trucks & bulldozers.​

  • Snow Scupltures

Kids and Adults alike are challenged to create a masterpiece from snow. Each participant is given an equal pile of snow and we watch as the creative juices flow.​

  • Vintage Snowmobile Display

Come down to Cockburn Square at Muskoka Wharf to see sleds from across the decades!  The Vintage Snowmobile display is a must-see for any sled enthusiast.  Check out more here.​

  • Wing-Eating Competition 

Contestants, who must be 19 years and older, will be challenged to eat the 1.5 lbs of chicken wings in 3 minutes.  The contestant who eats the most weight will win an assortment of prizes.  First, second and third place will be awarded. $10 with Button and $15 without​.

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The Muskoka Winter Carnival continues Monday, Family Day, at the YMCA and Graeme Murray arena for free pancakes, games and skating.