Attend a Winter Carnival for winter fun 

  A winter carnival offers a unique kind of fun. You can join in a game of broomball, build a snow fort, try a dogsled ride around the lake, shiver with the polar bear swimmers, watch the radar run as the snowmobiles race down the lake, or take a horse drawn sleigh ride in the moonlight. There’s traditional ‘bangers and mash’ dinners, pancake breakfasts, plus many more tasty treats and family fun.

 Carnivals are big part of the winter season in Muskoka, taking place throughout January and February in different communities around the region. Listed below are the dates of each of the winter carnivals in Muskoka, and a sampling of some of the events taking place at these fun-filled, winter celebrations.

  Port Sydney’s 46th annual Winter Carnival starts Wednesday, Jan. 22 with their Mad Hatters Dart Tournament and goes through to Sunday, Jan. 26. The schedule of events, most of which take place on the weekend, include a kids winter Olympics, the Muskoka antique snowmobile club's sleds of the past, snowshoeing demonstration and sales, horse drawn sleigh rides, and the Army Cadets’ winter obstacle course. Dog-sledding, ice skating on the rink at Mary Lake, a snowmobile poker run, the carnival dance at the community hall on Sat. evening and a pancake breakfast Sunday morning round out the fun. Contact James or Kate at (705) 385-3000 for more information.

  Gravenhurst’s ‘Fresh Tracks -- winter in Muskoka’ program, in its 2^nd  year, and is designed to spread out the events over the winter. For example, on January 26, there is a Family Fun Day at the Gravenhurst KOA from 9 am to 5pm. Children 12 and under ski for free. Contact: 705/687-2333. Or try some Tin Can Curling in ‘The Backyard Rink’ @155 Lofty Pines Crescent, from 12 pm to 4pm. Free with Refreshment Sales going to Music on the Barge. Contact: 705/687-4432. Other events include pancake breakfasts, Italian dinners, music concerts and more. Visit www.gravenhurstchamber.com to get details of times and dates for each event.

  Huntsville’s Winterfest happens January 31 –Feb. 2, and promises “a fun filled weekend with events for the whole family at various venues in Huntsville.” Schedules of events are available at the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact Colleen Hannigan at the Huntsville Centennial Ctre at  705-789-6421.

  The Port Carling Winter Carnival, also taking place January 31- Feb. 2 is a fun-filled weekend that includes figure skating displays, parades, children's games, sleigh rides, and a polar bear dip, Sunday, Feb. 2/03. Fireworks open the carnival on Friday night. Contact Karen at 705-765-6866 of 705-765-6018 for more info., and to register for the Polar Bear dip.

The 13^th annual Dorset ‘Snowball’ Winter Carnival runs Saturday, Feb. 15 and Sunday, Feb. 16. A skating party, clowns, music, hot chocolate and the infamous Adult Broomball Tournament are just some of the planned events and activities. There’ll also be a pancake breakfast, an Arts & Crafts Show, a Trapper’s display, a tobogganing hill, minnow races, a children’s fish-pond, children’s dog sled rides, Hockey Night in Dorset, a display from the Muskoka Wildlife Centre, and much more. Go to www.dorsetsnowball.com for more details, or contact Melissa Alfano at 705-766-9968 or e-mail drc@vianet.on.ca

The Dwight ‘Snowbash’ Winter Carnival takes place Friday and Saturday, February 21st and 22nd. Events include a kid’s carnival and games, a broomball party and bonfire, teen dance, (Friday night) dog sled rides, a pancake breakfast and an adult dance (Saturday night). New this year is the Timber Sports events, plus professional Magician comedian Dick Joiner at 11:30 on Saturday, and a display from the Muskoka Wildlife Centre at 1pm Saturday. Tethered hot air balloon rides will also be available. For more information call Karen at (705) 635-2231.