Richmond Hill Winter Carnival
Trench & Mill Street Richmond Hill, ON, Canada

Today is our last day of our #RHVirtualCarnival! You have until midnight tonight to send us your Colouring Contest entries, Scavenger Hunt item submissions (you can still register!), as well as enter our other contests. See https://wintercarnival.net/virtual-activities for all our fun activities.

As this year's 53rd #RHVirtualCarnival weekend approaches, here's a wonderful description of the history of the community event. Thanks to the Richmond Hill Historical Society for all these photos and interesting details; and for their good wishes for our fun, SAFE virtual carnival! Make sure you check out wintercarnival.net for all the activities; and order your keepsake, limited edition winter carnival button before they're all gone!

Wow, we've received so many entries! We look forward to seeing more - keep them coming! Check out some of the #RHVirtualCarnival Colouring Contest submissions we've received so far. For contest details: https://www.wintercarnival.net/carni/colouring-contest-2021 For more activities: https://www.wintercarnival.net/virtual-activities

CARVER SHARES MEMORIES ABOUT WINTER CARNIVAL CREATIONS Frank Vandermey is one of Richmond Hill Winter Carnival’s most recognized feature entertainers. Name doesn’t ring any bells? Think ice carver and wood carver, usually set up on or near the Mill Pond gazebo creating wondrous creatures and sculptures with his chainsaw and other tools! Although our carnival is virtual this year, we’re presenting a short Question and Answer interview with this creative man to showcase some of... his favourite winter carnival memories. (Families are welcome to post any photos they have from past carnivals of their children with Frank’s creations.) QUESTION: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN ICE CARVER AND WOOD CARVER? WHICH WAS YOUR FIRST PASSION? ANSWER: I have been carving wood for almost 20 years. I had not carved ice until I was invited to carve it at the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival. While ice is lots of fun and some very neat things can be done, carving wood would be my first passion. Q: HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU APPEARED AT OUR RICHMOND HILL WINTER CARNIVAL? A: Hah! Hah! That answer would involve a sharp memory. Sorry, I think it has been seven or eight years. Q. DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MEMORY OR FUN INCIDENT THAT YOU RECALL FROM A PAST RICHMOND HILL WINTER CARNIVAL? A: I always have fun at the carnival lots of great times. I honestly can't come up with a favourite, but certainly I have lots of great memories. Q: WHAT GIVES YOU JOB SATISFACTION FROM YOUR APPEARANCES AT OUR CARNIVAL? WHAT IS THE MOST FREQUENT REACTION FROM ONLOOKERS AS YOU DO YOUR CREATIONS? A: I find it particularly satisfying to engage the kids and teens, answer their questions and let them touch the carvings. The most frequent reaction from most onlookers is curiosity and amazement at what can be done with a chainsaw and some power tools in a relatively short time. Outside of the carnival, there is nothing quite like the satisfaction of connecting someone with a carving that is ‘meant' for that person. Q: WHAT ARE AMONG THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES OF DOING YOUR CREATIONS OUTSIDE IN WINTER? A: Oh! Easy answer staying warm and dry! Q: IS THIS YOUR FULL-TIME JOB, OR DO YOU DO OTHER WORK IN ADDITION TO CARVING? A: Carving is a hobby for me. That could be why I still enjoy it so much. I do have a full time 'day job' in Toronto. Q: DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT YOU? A: No, I don't. I have a personal Facebook page, but that's about it for social media and self promotion. If I have wears to sell, I generally post them on Kijiji.

BAGGLES THE CLOWN SHARES WINTER CARNIVAL MEMORIES Baggles The Clown is one of Richmond Hill Winter Carnival’s most beloved entertainers, especially for families with young children. Although our carnival is virtual this year, we’re presenting a short Question and Answer interview with Baggles aka Steve White to showcase some of his favourite winter carnival memories. Question: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN AN ENTERTAINER?... Answer: All of my life, and I would get in trouble for it at school, growing up. I have been performing magic for more than 30 years, and Baggles the clown will be 20 this year! Q: HOW MANY YEARS HAS BAGGLES THE CLOWN APPEARED AT OUR RICHMOND HILL WINTER CARNIVAL? A: I had to look over my photo library, and my Richmond Hill Winter Carnival button collection, and I see 2009 is my oldest button, so I’ve appeared at least a dozen years, with one year off due to pneumonia. Q: DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE MEMORY OR FUN INCIDENT THAT YOU CAN RECALL FROM A PAST RICHMOND HILL WINTER CARNIVAL? A: Before setting up outdoors one year, I had made a quick balloon hockey stick and slid across the frozen pond. I had a little tyke no more than age 4 or 5 shoot me a puck, but I could never stop the puck with that stick! Q: DOES ENTERTAINING AT AN OUTDOOR WINTER EVENT PROVIDE DIFFERENT CHALLENGES FROM ENTERTAINING IN A MORE TRADITIONAL (WARMER!) INDOOR HALL OR HOME? A: Wow, we have had some cold winters. The colder the day, the closer to the fire pit I would set up. Over the weekend, I would lose all the hair on the back of my hands. (You cannot wear gloves to make balloon sculptures.) My little (and big) friends would wait patiently in line to get a balloon. In recent years, the carnival committee has moved Baggles into the tent so the little ones don't get so cold. Q: WHAT ARE YOUR MOST POPULAR BALLOON FIGURES OR MAGIC TRICKS AT OUR WINTER CARNIVAL? A: I would make more flowers than swords, but many a buccaneer has visited me over the years. Q: WHAT WOULD BE SOMETHING OTHER PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO FIND OUT ABOUT YOU (AS BAGGLES)? A: Most people question me when I tell them it is rather easy to drive with my size 22 1/2 black and white wing tip shoes. Q: DO YOU HAVE A WEBSITE OR FACEBOOK PAGE, SO PEOPLE CAN FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE VARIETIES OF ENTERTAINMENT YOU OFFER? A: Baggles.ca has sections on our magician, Baggles the clown, and the Great Canadian Red Box Flea Circus and Flea and Insect Museum. Our Flea Circus facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fleacircus.canada has more information about some of the exhibits of the Flea and Insect Museum. Q: DO YOU HAVE A FINAL MESSAGE? A: Each year I really enjoy being at the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival. Over the years I have watched many of the residents grow up (and some of the moms and dads have grown up too!) I am going to miss my friends this year, and am eager to set up and make balloons the next time the carnival is live. To all my carnival friends, stay home and stay safe!

Did you get your picture taken with Ookpik? If you did, you can find your picture in our album "Carnival 2020 - Photos With Ookpik". If you didn't get yours taken with our mascot, it's definitely worth checking them out Everyone looks great!... https://www.wintercarnival.net/carnival-2020-photos-with-o/

Proud to be the gold sponsor of the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival during the weekend of Feb 1-2! It's always amazing to see kids have fun attending one of the f...ew outdoor events in winter. Big congrats to the organizing committee and your hard work to make it happen! If you are one of the winners and received one of the game building session certificates during the carnival, remember to contact us at [email protected] or call us at (647) 693-9683! #STEM #tech #kidsactivities #onyourschedule #lifeskills #kidswhocode #hiyah #comingsoon #richmondhill #girlswhocode #codeninjas #learntocode #richmondhillwintercarnival

Okay get this. For FREE you try to eat as many wings as you can in 6 minutes. You have to eat 1 lb of medium, before getting 1 lb of hot. The final pound are su...icide. The person who eats the most at the end of 6 minutes is the winner. And what do you win? A FREE pound of Wings, EACH week for a year at King Henry's Arms in Richmond Hill. It was huge fun watching the folks compete at the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival. :-) https://www.flickr.com/pho/crobart/albums/72157712977596398

Here's a lovely, interesting and fun photographic view of the 2020 winter carnival. Thanks so much for attending and sharing your photos, Chris Robart!

We couldn't stage winter carnival without our sponsors and helpers such as Rotary. Thanks for all you did and glad you had fun, too!

Did you win one of the grand prizes with your lucky carnival buttons? Councillor David West with helper Russell chose these winning numbers; call our hotline at 905-884-8887 to claim your prize! # 1900 - 4 x Single Day Summer Pass to Canada’s Wonderland # 2777 - City of Richmond Hill Entertainment Package # 2738 - 2 Night Stay at Royal Harbour Resort in Thornbury # 1886 - $500 gift certificate for Code Ninjas Richmond Hill ... Our elementary school colouring contest winners were proudly and prominently displayed during carnival weekend, as well. And before the fun wrapped up, Ookpik had a professional photo taken with the snowy Mill Pond as the backdrop, courtesy of local photographer Karen Merk. In the photo are Russ Horner and carnival co-chair Jean Michalchuk, who has been involved with carnival for 20 years. Russ has been involved with characters and mascots for about 40 years, and in fact, designed our very first Ookpik costume! Hope everyone had fun at our 52nd annual carnival, see you again for our 53rd! See more

Carnival’s almost wrapping up; there was a long line for the final train rides, and the last Lumberjack show was well attended. There are a few more button draws; maybe your button will earn the grand prize! This intrepid youngster with 21 buttons hopes to win several prizes!