Local Journalism Initiative
Radha Agarwal, Local Journalism Initiative The Northern View
As the crisp winter air settles over Prince Rupert, the city prepares for a week filled with festive cheer and community events to mark Winterfest 2024.
This year’s festivities will include exciting activities, art showcases, competitions, and cherished traditions, all leading up to the fest on Dec. 7 and 8.
Rotary Club Christmas Trees (Nov. 30 – Dec. 15): The Prince Rupert Rotary Club will sell Christmas trees at the basketball court on McBride St.
Winter words: The Prince Rupert Library will host a Winterfest poetry showcase. The deadline to submit poems to enter is Dec. 5. They invite participants of all ages.
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (Dec. 5, 6, and 7): Charles Hays Secondary School will delight audiences with its production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. The musical, performed at the Lester Centre for the Arts, will show on Dec. 5 and 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. The event is an opportunity for attendees to view the talents of local students.
Annual tree decorating competition (Dec. 6): Preschool and elementary school students will compete by decorating trees at Rupert Square Mall at 10 a.m.
Trolley rides with Trigon (Dec. 6 and 7): Visitors can hop aboard Trolley Rides for a magical tour of the town’s most beautifully decorated holiday homes. The tour begins at 7 p.m. on Dec. 6 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 7.
Breakfast & photos with Santa (Dec. 7): From 8 to 11 a.m., Santa will delight children and families, offering a hearty breakfast at the First United Church.
Creative Crafts (Dec. 7): The Museum of Northern B.C. will host a children’s craft fair from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Container Market (Dec. 7): From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Container Market will offer holiday shoppers the chance to support local artisans with unique Christmas gifts.
The Festival of Lights (Dec. 7): The evening will officially kick off at 6:30 p.m. with the lighting of the trees at the Courthouse Lawn. Free hot chocolate and treats will be available.
In addition to the tree lighting, the lawn will feature stationary interactive floats and live music. There will also be a selfie station with Santa and opportunities for snowball fights. Booths will be set up for games and activities.
43rd Annual Christmas Sailpast (Dec. 7): The night will culminate in the Sailpast at 7 p.m., where decorated vessels will parade along the waterfront.
Fireworks (Dec. 7): At 8:45, fireworks will light up the night sky. Mariners Park will offer a spectacular view of the festivity.
Winterfest Craft & Gift Fair (Dec. 8): Local crafts, art, and home-based businesses will be at the Highliner Hotel from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Luu’taa Vendor Market (Dec. 8): Vendors will offer a variety of handmade goods from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Nisga’a Hall.
Rupert Runners Hohoholiday (Dec. 8): Runners can participate in a 5k run at 11 a.m., beginning at Cowpaccinos.
After the race, the Jingle Boat Express will run from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., allowing people to sail through Prince Rupert Harbour with Santa. Registrations will take place at the Port Interpretive Centre in Cow Bay.
Free skating (Dec. 8): A Christmas-themed free skating event will be held at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Arena from 4 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. The event will conclude with free hot chocolate for all attendees.
Lighting of the Crab Trap Christmas Tree (Dec. 8): At 5:30 p.m., a 30-feet-tall crab pot Christmas tree will be lit up at the Rushbrook Harbour.
Winterfest is organized by the non-profit organization Prince Rupert Special Events Society. Several local organizations have sponsored the event, including the City of Prince Rupert, AltaGas, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Trigon Pacific Terminals, Pembina, and the Port Edward Harbour Authority. In-kind sponsors include Big Dog Disposal and Recycling, Rainbow Chrysler Dodge Jeep, Bandstra Transportation Systems, and Wainwright Marine.
