The Dwight community said cheers to 50 years of the Dwight Winter Carnival last weekend.
The sunshine arrived in time for the celebrations, and the Huntsville Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce hosted activities both outside and in for attendees.
Following the Kids’ Caper on Friday evening, Saturday morning began with a pancake breakfast served up by the Dwight Lions Club as folks reminisced about the last 50 years of the carnival. Old photos and articles from past events were on hand to jog memories. A photo booth was available for carnival goers to take some 50th anniversary photos home to remember the good time had.
Outdoor activities throughout the day included disc golf, minigolf, a fish pond, baseball and hockey shots, archery, axe throwing, fatbiking, snowshoeing, wagon rides, a petting zoo and some old-fashioned fun with nail driving, log sawing, egg races, and potato sack races.
The chili cook-off warmed tummies indoors at lunchtime, with Webster’s Beacon taking the win, while the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Muskoka held an afternoon BBQ complete with marshmallow roasting over an outdoor fire. Not to be outdone in the sweet department, Irwin Memorial P.S. held a bake sale.
It was a fun day for all ages. If you missed out, check out the photos below!
Correction: An earlier version of this story noted that the Dwight Lions Club coordinated the carnival’s BBQ, when it was in fact the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville Muskoka. We regret the error.
Memories from winter carnivals past (Cheyenne Wood)
Ethan (left) and Travis both received medals for their determination in nail driving (Cheyenne Wood)
Grade 3 student Liam Carnduff shoots to score! (Cheyenne Wood)
Log sawing was one of several traditional activities offered at the 50th Dwight Winter Carnival (Cheyenne Wood)
Jamie Honderich (centre) of Bush Poker Axe Throwing offers some tips on technique (Cheyenne Wood)
Algonquin Outfitters brought fatbikes and snowshoes for carnival-goers to enjoy (Cheyenne Wood)
Hey, where’d it go? (Cheyenne Wood)
Yannick Brooks takes aim with the help of Archers in Muskoka (Cheyenne Wood)
Stephanie and Mallory Dwyer bond with the goats from Stoneleigh Farms (Cheyenne Wood)
Stephanie Brooks takes Winter the goat for a walk (Cheyenne Wood)
Egg race rule number one: don’t drop it! (Cheyenne Wood)
Darcy Brooks tries hard not to scramble his egg. Being made to spin around three times first added to the challenge. (Cheyenne Wood)
Unlike traditional golf, disc golf can be played year-round (Cheyenne Wood)
Kids and potato sacks make for instant fun (Cheyenne Wood)
The photo booth elicited some giggles (Cheyenne Wood)
The chili cook-off was a delicious way to warm up (Cheyenne Wood)
Happy 50th, Dwight Winter Carnival! (Cheyenne Wood)
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As a clarification to this article, the Huntsville Muskoka Kiwanis Club in partnership with Bullocks Independent Grocer Huntsville and Tim Hortons Huntsville (the Greenwood Group) were responsible for the barbecue. Net proceeds from this event will be donated to support children’s programs at Irwin Public School. The Dwight Lion’s Club donated the use of their barbecue trailer.