Winter in Huntsville is about to get a whole lot more fun!
The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Huntsville BIA, and the Huntsville Festival of the Arts have joined forces to bring back SnowFest and transform River Mill Park into a whimsical winter wonderland. Add Downtown Huntsville to your must-visit list for frosty fun, skating delights, and a dash of seasonal magic that will leave you with memories as warm as a cup of cocoa.
The chilly festivities kick off on January 20, 2024 (weather permitting), with the grand opening of the River Mill Skating Rink. This is no ordinary rink — it’s the heart of a winter extravaganza!
The rink will be open daily (weather permitting). Plus, every Saturday afternoon for 8 weeks, and two special Sundays during Family Day Weekend and March Break, some extra entertainment will be sprinkled into the mix. The SnowFest Entertainment Series will feature on-ice buskers enthralling the skaters, off-ice buskers dazzling the crowd, and kids’- -themed DJs turning the ice into a dance floor. And for those craving a sweet touch, hot chocolate vendors will be on hand on select Saturdays to add a warm sip of delight to the icy festivities.
SnowFest Entertainment Series Schedule:
• Saturday, January 20 – Swan Lake Princess Performance / 2-3 pm
• Saturday, January 27 – Icicle Kid Performance / 2-3 pm
• Saturday, February 3 – Snowflake Kid Performance / 2-3 pm
• Saturday, February 10 – Snowflake Princess Performance / 2-3 pm
• Saturday, February 17 – Snow Bunny Performance / 2-3 pm
• Sunday, February 18 – Kids Dance Party with DJ KJ Chris & Goat Visits with Muskoka Goat Away / 1-3 pm • Saturday, March 2 – Snowflake Princess Performance / 2-3 pm
• Saturday, March 9 – Snowflake Kid Performance / 2-3 pm
• Sunday, March 10 – Kids Dance Party with DJ KJ Chris & Goat Visits with Muskoka Goat Away / 1-3 pm • Saturday, March 16 – Jack Frost Performance / 2-3pm
After the sun sets, River Mill Park will be bathed in twinkling lights, with a crackling fire and seasonal music creating a festive atmosphere. The result? An unforgettable nighttime skating experience that will have you coming back for more.
The pièce de résistance of this frosty fiesta is SnowFest, a dazzling winter celebration on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. around the rink in River Mill Park. Get ready for a day filled with music, buskers and on-ice performers, and interactive activities to keep everyone entertained. Picture yourself roasting marshmallows, sipping on hot chocolate, and marvelling at the mesmerizing artistry of ice sculptors creating masterpieces before your eyes. SnowFest promises a day of joy and wonder for the whole family.
Debuting on the same day as SnowFest, Snow Village is all about family-friendly fun, featuring interactive snow activities like whimsical snow sculptures, sturdy snow forts, and a snow labyrinth. Snow Village will remain open until Mother Nature decides it’s time to bid adieu.
Mark your calendars and head to River Mill Park for an unforgettable experience that will linger long after the snow melts away. Lace up your skates, bundle up, and join us for a winter adventure like no other in the heart of Muskoka!
For more information on the River Mill Park SnowFest activities please visit https://www.huntsvillesnowfest.com/ or follow on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/huntsvillesnowfest and on Instagram at @huntsvillesnowfest.
If you’re interested in volunteering to help with rink maintenance, please contact Torin at the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce at [email protected]. If you’re interested in purchasing a rink board advertisement, please contact Halley at the Huntsville/Lake of Bays Chamber of Commerce at [email protected] prior to January 24, 2024.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
I was past the rink this morning, and the signs are now set to “Rink is Open”. Have yet to see any skaters! However, there are benches right there for the donning of skates. It is a great looking facility…maybe, because the geese enjoy the park grass so much, this rink platform could provide summer facility for roller skating, square dances, outdoor dining, or as a bandshell seating platform that affords a better view than the reverse sloped ground.