Winter Carnivals
Considering North Bay’s climate, it is not surprising that many local events and festivals take place in the winter.
The North Bay Snow Frolic event launched in 1946 with the slogan “Snow Fun is Good Fun Come to North Bay, Ont., Often!”
Events included ice climbing, a Snow Princess contest, a beard judging contest (Whiskerinos), photography, special events, ski events, fireworks, Parades, Wood Chopping, Air Show, and Speed Skating.
Musical entertainment was widespread including moccasin dancing, an “Old Time Hoe-Down”, Opera performances, and more.
Decorations, such as the ice tower in front of the North Bay CPR station, were a main part of the Snow Frolic event in 1946. Photo by William Forder.
Crowds gathered for the Snow Frolic Parade, 1946.
Log sawing competitions and shows were a main attraction. Photo by William Forder.
Waggles the Penguin Souvenir Button from 1947 Snow Frolic. North Bay Museum Collection.
Representatives from Nipissing First Nation including Angus, Josephine and Joe Beaucage took part in the 1946 Snow Frolic by setting up a display and demonstrations on Main Street.
While little information is available from news articles or the official souvenir guides, this display would have formed an important part of the experience for festival goers.
Crowds gathered for the Snow Frolic Parade in 1946
Log sawing competitions and shows were a main attraction of the North Bay Snow Frolic event. The Dionne Quintuplets were also present at the event.
Photos by William Forder
The North Bay Fur Carnival Launched in 1966 and ran until 1977.
The carnivals included snowmobile races, an automobile ice race, a dog sled weight pulling contest, a sled dog derby, a Winter Carnival Fur Queen contest, a figure skating show, and skydivers. A song by Bill Vrebosch entitled “Duke the Toque” was also performed.
According to the North Bay Nugget, the North Bay Fur Carnival was deemed a “financial disaster” in 1977 by the board of directors and the event was discontinued.
Dog sled races were central to North Bay’s winter fur carnivals. Events included a sled dog derby for adults, a “kid and his mutt” contest for single dog teams driven by youth under 13, and a junior derby for teams of 3-5 dogs driven by amateurs.
Carnival goers pose with mascot “Duke the Toque”. In 1968, ten year old Tammy Watkins of North Bay won a $50 prize for naming Duke the Toque as the symbol of North Bay’s fur carnival.
This 1971 brochure provides an overview of fur carnival events along with a map of festival grounds.
North Bay Winter Fur Carnival 1973 Button. North Bay Museum Collection.
A few years later, the North Bay Winter Carnival launched in 1983. The Winter Carnivals included a Carnival Queen pageant, air shows, snowmobile races, log sawing contests, bike races, figure skating, food stands by local service clubs, and more. In July 1995, The North Bay Winter Carnival organizing committee announced the 12 year event will cease from lack of local support.
North Bay Mayor Stan Lawlor helps Winter Carnival Chairman Ralph Celentano and Carnival Queen Laura Busko, prepare for a visit to the North Bay Village, Florida in 1988.
Mayor Lawlor helped Mr. Celentano exchange a fur coat for some more traditional Florida attire. Ralph Celentano and Laura Busko represented the city in Florida as part of an exchange that also saw officials from Florida visit North Bay during the Winter Carnival.
Photo by Paul Chivers from The North Bay Nugget
Doris and Ron Sanderson at 1987 North Bay Winter Carnival
1987 North Bay Winter Carnival