From left, Laura McInnes of the Port Elgin BIA stands with Saugeen Shores Public Works staff, Adam Rosner, Darryl McGillivray, Daryl Faust, and Peter Knechtel at Coulter Parkette February 15, as they build a mountain of snow for this year's Snow Fest.

Hub Staff

Saugeen Shores Public Works was hard at work Thursday morning, February 15, bringing truck loads of snow back into Port Elgin's downtown core for the Port Elgin BIA’s second annual Snow Fest in Coulter Parkette on Saturday, February 17.

The BIA’s Laura McInnes said that they were looking forward to the festival after the success of last year’s inaugural event. “It was so good last year. Hopefully it will be around for many years to come,” she said, adding that the event was spearheaded by Port Elgin's Steff Allen.  

The event is set to take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with various activities planned. “The Interact Club is doing s’mores, we're going to have snow painting and street hockey and hopefully bubbles. 98 The Beach are going to be here to play some music and just have some fun with the kids,” she said, adding that Rabbit Dash and Ashanti will also be on hand serving up hot beverages.

McInnes gave praise to Town Staff involved in building the mountain. “We really appreciate the hard work that the Town and the Public Works Department puts into it because without them it would be a very small pile of snow.”

Peter Knechtel of Public Works said it was a little more challenging this year because the location of the snow pile had moved off the road and crews decided to use a snow blower. “It’s helping with the blower because we’re in a confined area this year. Last year we were out on the road so we could go on all sides,” he said.

McInnes said the Public Works staff also added some viewing barriers during this year’s preparation so people could safely watch the building of the mountain.

A snowblower helped with the building of the snow mountain for the second annual winter festival in downtown Port Elgin. 

Normally seen taking snow away from Port Elgin’s downtown, trucks were bringing it back in February 15 and dumping it in Coulter Parkette.

Saugeen Shores Public Works staff members busy creating a mountain of snow February 15.

Muscle and machinery were both put to use February 15 as Daryl Faust gets busy with a shovel in preparation for Saturday's Snow Fest in Coulter Parkette.