Manitou Beach held their annual Winterfest event on Saturday at Danceland and nearby Wellington Park.

The day is sponsored by the Watrous Rec Board, their chair is Jean Angers.

"At Danceland here every year we do have vendors, I think we have about 13 or 14 different vendors. We start it off with a pancake breakfast, of course 50-50's and things like that, we have a cribbage tournament going on."

Angers couldn't recall the amount of years the event has been running, Milly Strueby, the owner of Danceland and also a rec board member explains that they first decided to organize something to help brighten residents mood in the dying days of winter.

"Exactly, get rid of those winter blues," the energetic owner beamed. "That's why we put on Winterfest, to get people out."

There was cook-offs, a pie competition, a yoga session and musical entertainment all at the world renowned hall.

Angers admits much more used to occur outside during the day but they are down on volunteers and that takes away from what they can do. They did have a wiener roast, sleigh rides and a snow shoes foe people to use. 

They do make a small amount of money but he says they do it for the same reason Strueby stressed earlier.

"This event isn't so much a money maker as it is like we said, a break up of winter. It does get some people out, usually at the breakfast and we always have a good crib tournament crowd, they always come out, they love to play."

They were taking donations for Camp Easter Seal and the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation as well.

The rec board is now preparing for the summer and Canada's 150th anniversary celebration, call the village office if you can help out with that, Angers was hoping to drum up some volunteer help for the year during Winterfest.

You can hear more from Milly and Jean below.