The Vernon Winter Carnival Ice Palace 1967.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED / Vernon Winter Carnival
January 24, 2020 - 1:00 PM
In celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Vernon Winter Carnival is bringing back its iconic ice palace.
While the ice sculpture was a carnival stable each year during the 1960s, warmer weather combined with added costs meant the ice palace stopped being a regular feature. In celebration of 60 years of the carnival, a 40-foot long ice palace is being resurrected and will take centre stage at the Civic Plaza in downtown Vernon when the carnival begins Feb. 7.
"It will be there for as long as it lasts," Vernon Winter Carnival executive director Vicki Proulx said. "Hopefully it will last for the whole of carnival."
Along with the coronation of Queen Silverstar at the ice palace, the carnival - whose theme this year is Remembers the 60s - returns with over 120 events including the parade, which takes place Feb. 8.
The carnival returns with plenty of the usual favourites plus 21 new events, with over half of them free of charge.
The Carnival Kickoff Celebration will start the two weeks of festivities at the site of the old Kin Race Track with a firework display as well as live music, carnival-style performers and food vendors. Other new events include Mr. Mikes Twist Off, where the flexible can compete against each other in the game Twister. There's a Vintage Snowmobile Poker Run, where riders get to dust off their old school snowmobiles and take from for a rip at Sovereign Lake, and a Country Music Valentines Night Dance held at The Green Pub.
While many community events don't stand the test the time, Proulx said the Carnival's ability to provide something for all ages and all incomes is a factor as to why it has lasted for six decades.
"It really is a true community event," Proulx said. "We involve the entire community."
The Vernon Winter Carnival runs from Feb. 7 to Feb. 16.
For more information and a full schedule of events go here.
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