By Thom Paterson
It’s been a cold and windy winter so far, and it looks like it will be more of the same til March. A real, Canadian, old-time winter.
Your local Business Improvement Association is just not taking this in stride – it’s planning to make the most out of a cold situation. Once again, the BIA is presenting their annual Big Heart Days starting on Valentine’s Day and ending on Family Day (Friday, February 14 to Monday, February 17).
Big Heart Days is a wonderful annual tradition celebrating the origin of our village name, from the Gaelic croi mor for “big heart.” But this year, it will be an event-filled midwinter festival with plenty to do, see and eat for the kids and the kid in us all.
This year’s theme is “Show your heart for winter”! Winter event venues are being set up around the core of the village inviting locals and visitors to Mill Street.
The Sweetheart Skate will start off the fun on Friday night at the Station rink, with plenty of hot chocolate and a warming fire. During the Opening Ceremonies on Saturday, several special guests will help us relive the fantastic memories of the Olympic torch relay run through the village in 2010.
Saturday and Sunday events will include a toboggan run beside the Library, kid’s curling at the Station rink, snowshoeing, snow sculpture carving, Street Hockey at the Pub, Winterama games for the kids put on by Ray’s Place, Messy Art finger painting at the Library with the Mess Mistresses, a Maple Sugar Shack and a warming station in front of the 100 Mile Store, where you can get a stick of real maple taffy. Residents of the village are invited to let their creativity loose and enter this year’s Snowman Making Contest (winners will be announced on Family Day). The Township is opening the Creemore Arena on Family Day for a free family skate indoors. Affairs Catering, Bakery and Café will serve their special Sweetheart Breakfasts and Lunches all weekend.
Our restaurants are taking up the Creemore Chili Challenge to see who gets the gold as the Creemore Chili Challenge Champion. Visit the participating restaurants, enjoy their chili, cast your ballot and get Creemore Bucks, which will be handed out at Big Heart events.
Many of the merchants on Mill Street will be offering “Paint the Town Red” specials throughout February and accepting Creemore Bucks. There will be other fun ways to earn Creemore Bucks while participating in the events throughout the Big Heart Days weekend, to increase your savings in our stores.
BIA Big Heart pins will be available to purchase for a toonie from the local merchants to help show your heart for winter and Creemore.
The list of events is still growing. If you know a way to make the best out of winter, contact me, Thom Paterson, at tpaterson@clearview.ca or 705-466-6321, or Corey Finkelstein at bia@ourcreemore.ca at 705-466-6593. Also watch for the calendar of events in upcoming editions of the Echo. Come and experience winter in the little village with the big heart!