There’s no reason to be alone just because it’s cold. As soon as the snow starts piling up, Canadians find different ways to hang out & come together with their loved ones.
We asked our readers about their favourite winter activities that bring them together. Here are the top eleven we learned about. What’s a winter get-together that everyone in your town looks forward to?
Shinny on community outdoor rinks
A couple of readers told us that playing shinny on outdoor rinks is the way to go. They said their neighbourhood rinks don’t even require scheduling, and people simply show up after dinner with sticks in hand.
It’s essentially a street version of hockey. Several readers said it really brought the whole community together for a little bit of competitive fun.
Skating the Rideau Canal during Winterlude
Our readers in Ottawa said that they never actually plan a canal skate in winter. But somehow, they always end up on one.
It usually starts by texting a few friends & grabbing beavertails halfway, and then before they know it, they’re with people they know. They said they particularly enjoy skating along the Rideau Canal when Winterlude is on.
Community curling bonspiels
People from all over the country told us that their curling club’s bonspiel sells out every year. It’s that popular. Most teams wear silly costumes & have neighbours serve chili from slow cookers on the sidelines.
However, the best part has to be between the games. That’s when everyone comes together to swap jokes & gossip about who borrowed the good broom again.
Polar bear dips on New Year’s Day
You have to be brave to do a polar bear dip. Yet apparently, nothing brings a crowd together quite like sprinting into the freezing water of English Bay and other places.
People get together to line up in costumes & count down. At the end, they all enjoy a hot chocolate and celebrate their sheer gall.
Loppet cross-country ski festivals
The Canadian Birkie involves thousands of people skiing through snowy trails. According to our readers in Alberta, the event is a great way to bring people together because it involves families cheering along the sidelines & sharing stories.
Yes, it’s exhausting. But the event is also weirdly social since it’s more of an event involving ski-and-chat than race-to-win.
Ice fishing derbies on frozen lakes
An ice fishing derby is the kind of event that turns strangers into neighbours. Somehow, someone always forgets an auger, and they have to strike up a conversation with those around them to borrow one.
What better way to socialize than that? As for the others, they tend to wander between holes & share a few conversations.
Carnaval de Québec street events
Carnaval is quite popular in Québec City, and they couldn’t stop raving about the brass bands & food stalls. People also love the ice sculptures.
It’s a chance for people to share maple taffy on snow with people you don’t know & to get a steaming cup of Caribou coffee. Several readers said they made some lifelong friends there.
Northern lights watch nights
Aurora season apparently involves a lot of spontaneous get-togethers. People gather to watch the sheer beauty of the northern lights & cheer as the sky turns green. There’s a real sense of joy, even after the lights fade.
Indoor winter farmers’ markets
Canadian winters bury a lot of fields with snow. But that doesn’t stop the farmers. Instead, they’ll go indoors to host winter farmers’ markets across the country, where shoppers linger to talk & sample different foods.
Several readers said it’s normal to see the same faces each week. Soon enough, it begins to feel like a Saturday family reunion because you recognize so many people.
Dogsled race weekends and meet-and-greets
Whitehorse locals talk a lot about the dogsled races. These events are as much of a sport as they are a festival, where people line up to watch their favourite pooches running through the snow.
The crowds cheer for everyone. Really, it doesn’t matter whose team it is because everyone feels close to each other by the finish line.
Snow carving and snowman building in parks
Snow carving begins the second the snow piles get large enough. People all over show up with kids, old buckets & garden tools. They’ll shape whatever comes to mind. Eventually, kids play together, people swap tools without thinking, and keep talking as they compare how frozen their hands have become.
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