Collingwood's Winter Wonderland

Remember when winter was fun? Remember the thrill of a snow day?
It’s time to take a break from the grown-up world of winter hassles and relive the excitement of winter as a family. Create snow-filled memories in Collingwood – South Georgian Bay’s Winter Wonderland.

From December 27 to January 4, there will be plenty of free fun to keep you and your family entertained and active after the holiday rush. The full schedule is included with this release and available online at www.collingwoodswonderland.com.
Enjoy bonfire bliss at the FIRESIDE LOUNGE, the height of coziness in snow belt weather. Roast marshmallows, warm your fingers and toes, and enjoy story time every day leading up to New Year’s.

Visit the SNOWFLAKE CHALET for all things frosty this holiday season, including ice block building, snowshoe trials, the Marshmallow World Series of snowshoeing and a New Year’s Eve family scavenger hunt.

The SUGAR PLUM PAVILION is the place to be for arts and crafts for the whole family. Whether you’re an amateur photographer or your child is sure to be a brilliant artist, you’ll have fun at the Sugar Plum Pavilion with balloon sculpting, arts and crafts, the Great Northern Gingerbread Build-off, pottery painting, and the Joy Rediscovered Photo Contest.

No winter is complete without a nice mug of steaming cocoa to keep you warm and cozy while the snow is falling. Come to the COCOA CABIN for tasty treats and hot beverages that will warm your hands & hearts this season.

CELEBRATION STAGE is the place to be to cozy up in the Muskoka chairs next to the bonfire! Enjoy the music of Kelly’s Heroes (Saturday, 5 p.m.), then cheer on the professional ice carvers as they compete to create the best sculpture in the time provided during the Battle of the Chainsaws (Saturday – Monday, 1 p.m.). On Tuesday afternoon, root for your favourite in the Celebrity Carve-Off; smaller tools but higher stakes! (Tuesday, 1 p.m.)

Get ready for big screen adventure and family fun at the Collingwood outdoors MITTENS & MOVIES! Bring your friends, your family, or your date to this free event.
Frosty fun in Collingwood’s Winter Wonderland

Movies start at 5:00 p.m. Join us on December 29 for Disney’s Frozen: Sing Along Edition, and on December 30, enjoy 24 of the best Pixar animated shorts.

The annual Collingwood Downtown Ice Sculpture Festival returns, and will feature more than 30 stunning sculptures. Don’t miss the exciting carving demonstrations, free wagon rides, and other fun family activities.

The Collingwood/Blue Mountains Transit Link will be operating extended daytime hours (7 a.m. – 7 p.m.) from December 27 – January 4 to help you easily reach your Collingwood’s Wonderland destination. You can view the holiday schedule for all Collingwood Transit at www.collingwood.ca/HolidayTransit .

Theatre Collingwood for Christmas

Don't Miss Theatre Collingwood's Presentation of RENT

RENT is on stage with Theatre Collingwood this week on December 12th and 13th.  Call the box office to get your tickets!  705.445.2200. Or purchase tickets on-line at http://theatrecollingwood.ca/buying-tickets 

Blue Opens Dec 5th - 2014

The 2014-15 season is just days away as Blue Mountain prepares to open their slopes on Friday December 5, 2014.  To celebrate the season, lift tickets will be priced at $19 plus HST for all ages. 

Around the Resort, the signature woosh of snow guns could be heard all week long.  Blue's non-stop snowmaking efforts coupled with consistently cold temperatures felt this week can be credited with getting the slopes open sooner rather than later.

"We were fortunate enough to see ideal snowmaking conditions in the short term forecast," said Peter Sutcliffe, Director of Mountain Experience, Blue Mountain Resort.  "We were able to focus our efforts on the Village pod and open the slopes'for December 5th."

Provided that the current weather conditions remain steady throughout the coming days, the Resort will be on-track to open the Silver Bullet Chair with access to Tranquility, a blue square run, for day operations between 9:00am and 4:30pm.  In addition, the Easy Street Learning Centre will be operational offering beginner ski and snowboard lessons between open hours.  For those that require equipment, Blue's Rental Department in Activity Central will also open for the season.  Night Skiing is set to begin on December 18, 2014.

Opening Day is one of the most anticipated days of the year for Blue Mountain's many guest and Season Passholders.  With memories of last year's record-breaking season close at hand, interest in skiing and snowboarding peaked early for the 2014-15 Season.

"Speculation regarding Blue's anticipated open began when early season snowstorms blanketed our region in mid-November," said Paul Pinchbeck, Vice President, Marketing, Blue Mountain Resort.  "While we had to weather a few mild spells, our snowmakers were still able to mass-produce the snow needed to get our slopes open.  With continued help from Mother Nature and successful snowmaking operations, we're looking forward to what we hope will be another long season at Blue Mountain."

Updated daily, snow and condition reports can be found at www.bluemountain.ca, or in real time on Blue Mountain's Facebook Page  and Twitter Page.  

3rd Annual Glamapalooza - Thursday November 27th, 2014

Our 3rd Annual Glamapalooza: Ladies Take Thornbury is set to happen on Thursday November 27th with activities running from 9:00 a.m. through to 11:00 p.m. Gather up the girls and join us in Thornbury for this one-of-a-kind event with everything from a fancy High Tea, to delightful cheese, wine & beer pairings or the sampling olive oil & balsamic varieties.



Twenty-nine locations in Thornbury have created a series of unique activities designed just for Glamapalooza. Join the girls for a Restorative Yoga class, take in a demonstration on the art of milk paint, get advice on wines from around the world from a Sommelier or learn to make some holiday hors d'oeuvres. Get a Glama Blow Out before learning to make your own Glamarama martini in a mixology session! Remember to book your special daytime activities and make lunch and dinner reservations ahead of time to ensure your spot. Space for some of these activities can be very limited.

With an anticipated 1000+ women in town, Glamapalooza's 29 shops and restaurants will be full of specials, surprises and prizes. Get your Christmas shopping done early while indulging yourself in a little fun and relaxation. With our unique shops and boutiques, we can offer you creative gift options for even your most "challenging to buy for" family and friends.  The restaurants will keep you warm with culinary delights. Accommodations are available to Glamapalooza participants at The Royal Harbour Resort, The Westin Trillium House at Blue Mountain or Blue Mountain Resorts.

There will also be a photo booth with donations going towards a much needed Mammogram machine at The Collingwood General & Marine Hospital.

Glamapalooza is generously sponsored by Metroland Media, www.mycolllingwood.ca and The Peak FM.

For further information on all the fun and full schedule of events, visit our website.  

For more information contact:

Casey Thomson          Leslie Lewis

The Cheese Gallery    Evolution him & her

519-599-6699             519-599-5013

Peace & War Presented by Meaford Community Theatre on November 10th at Meaford Hall

Photo – Robert Greenfield, Franz Greenfield and Harley Greenfield rehearsing for Peace & War

Meaford Community Theatre

Local actors and musicians bring history alive with the presentation of Peace & War on stage at Meaford Hall November 10^th. This annual community production features four short dramas and a variety of music for Remembrance Day.

A familiar cast of Franz Greenfield, Robert Greenfield and Harley Greenfield relive the Christmas Truce of 1914 when Allied and German soldiers in the trenches laid down their rifles for a few hours and met face to face in ‘no-man’s land’.

Jaden Calvert plays an adventuresome Canadian soldier who finds himself in North Africa during WW2 battling not only the enemy but sand storms and flies. A Nurse, played by Abby Woodhouse, describes in a letter to his parents his final hours.

In School Days a young girl, played by Jadon Klein, tells how her teachers are signing up to fight overseas leaving many soon-to-be widows.

As a result of the Vietnam War thousands of war resisters came to Canada to evade the draft. Greg Brown portrays one of those draft dodgers as he explains why he made that choice.

Music for Peace & War is provided by students Nick Hallman, Michelle Wright and Abby Woodhouse accompanied by Melri Wright along with Lyrica of the Georgian Bay Children’s Choir directed by Jennifer Potter.

Tickets for the 7:30pm performance on Monday, November 10^th are available at Meaford Hall.

Submitted by Greg Brown, Producer

Photo – Robert Greenfield, Franz Greenfield and Harley Greenfield rehearsing for Peace & War

Shri fest 2014

Shri fest Yoga, Music and Art Festival  twists, bends and OHMS it's way into ‎a fantastic third year. Set in the magnificent Blue Mountain village yogis, curiosity seekers and foodies will all come together to take part in a weekend of Yoga, shopping and a Farm to Table dinner.

Entering its third year Shri fest continues to delight it's participants by bringing together the best of our regional Yoga and Fitness instructors to provide a variety of classes throughout an entire weekend. With a full retail village and food offerings throughout the day plus a dinner that showcases the best of local farmers there is always something for participants to do once they have finished their yoga.

Shirlee Williams founder and festival director said " Shri fest offers something for everyone, a great variety of classes, amazing items for purchase in our "Shri-Tail village", incredible food and live music in many of classes, we are so excited that we are back for year three bigger and better than ever".

 

Shri meaning beauty describes in part what the festival is all about, beautiful yoga and beautiful people coming together in a beautiful setting. Shri fest takes place Oct 31st-Nov 2nd ‎in the Grand Central Lodge in the Village at Blue Mountain.

For a complete schedule click here