Snow Social 2023 – lots of fun, and a chance to ‘enjoy the ride’

Kelli McRobert | Jan 25, 2023

2023 has started off with an abundance of diverse weather and we all managed to survive Blue Monday with our darkest day behind us. It was nice to have something to look forward to that could entertain the young, and the ‘young at heart’. Families in South Frontenac, and beyond, packed up the family in their winter woollies and headed off to Sydenham for a day filled with fun and adventure.

The weather was ‘mild’, relatively speaking, and there was no precipitation in the forecast to deter those that had to travel a distance. Parking was strategically planned out at various locations which kept foot traffic safe as parents, with kids in tow, shuffled down to the park eager to burn some energy. This event was hosted free by the Township of South Frontenac.

A shuttle (Robert Hogan Bus Lines) was provided for those that wanted to partake and wagon rides (White’s Rides) also offered a scenic tour of the village and surrounding local businesses. As you entered, families were lined up ready for their turn on the wagon, and volunteers came and went rotating amongst the various activity stations lining the fields and large spacious grounds.

It was a tent village with a festive centre core that offered up warming fire pits, s’mores building stations, and music as you warmed up between activities.

Each venue had something to offer that was sponsored by various vendors. Kids could be seen tackling the Elements Fitness & Wellness obstacle course, laughing as they tumbled into the soft snow. Younger kids were playing kids games like jumbo darts hosted by the Not So Amateur Amateurs, while others kick sledded and snow shoed alongside the beautiful snow-covered lake. In between activities, children, and adults alike, could be found eagerly lining up for some fluffy pink cotton candy, staining faces for the remainder of the day. Others chose a salty treat of popcorn as they listened to the Indigenous teachings of Greg Loft around the warm fire pit, that crackled and popped, as the flames lulled you into a place of comfort and relaxation.

In the background, music drifted across the snowy field as musicians entertained from a welcoming tent that offered seating for those looking to eat a picnic lunch or savour the yummy beaver tails served up fresh nearby. Mellow Lily, Whiskey Smoke, and Kevin & the Kitchen Sink, kept fingers tapping and hearts warmed with fresh local tunes and bubbly personalities. Many were seen sampling the tasty hot chocolate and delicious baked goods that were on offer by the Sydenham High School Prom Committee, who continue to raise funds for the 150th celebration later this fall.

For those that tackled the tubing hill, multiple times, they could then head to the library branch, get their faces painted, listen to stories (classic Canadian tales), try their hand at a Frontenac Flyers & Frontenac Fury skills and drills clinic, watch an exhibition game or sip a hot drink by Patriam Coffee,

Whew, what an itinerary, and we are only halfway there! Across the street, the groups hustled along with strollers, back packs, and toddlers, to grab a quick snack at Lenny’s Deli, who were hosting live music by Jake Unger, Dewy Roadkill, and Lucas Pell. Once the family was fuelled back up, they could venture outside and join the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Network for an interactive walk identifying Scat and Tracks or meet up with Gaye to be guided through the trails to identify our local bird population.

Anyone that needed some ‘retail therapy’ headed to the Grace Centre who hosted a Vendors Market while the Sydenham Legion Branch 496 offered up their space for card games, shuffleboard, and pool table.

Back at the main village, as activities began to wind down, the damp chill was slowly seeping into wet mittens and saturated snow suits. A few of the younger kids started to nod off as they sat, exhausted, in the bright blue kids tubes. The hill had turned a bit shiny as the hundreds of tubes had perfectly prepared the surface for the final runs of the day.

Us volunteers, weary from manning the activity booths, climbed the hill, snow crunching under our boots, legs burning from the incline as we made the trek upwards. We lined up their tubes, took a seat, “bums in, legs out”, as was stated by rote for those that spent a few hours manning the hill.

Grab a handle, take a breath, one final shove, or perhaps a mischievous spin, and we are off. The thrill of gliding down the now slick slope is invigorating. My mind is clear, the cold air rushes past and takes me back to my youth. Pure and joyous FUN. The bumps, the final launch after the ditch as you feel your stomach rise and fall with that brief hesitation (gasp) as you land on the ground, safe, sliding into the landing area. You lie there, taking in that moment of pure amusement, relief, and a rush of adrenaline that lasts for a few minutes.

I can see the appeal. I now understand how this location was one of the most popular as families of all shapes and sizes, came and went throughout the day. Each one unique. Each one enjoying a moment away from the hustle and bustle of life, a re-found playfulness, that we often lose as we get older. Men in jeans, women in fancy hats, all heading to the slopes to recapture a sense of folly, losing their inhibitions of societal expectations placed upon us as adults.

In my opinion, we need more snow days, so we can slide our worries away, if even for just a moment, and remember to really ‘enjoy the ride’.