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Ice sculptures and winter fun on Kempenfelt Bay
Spend a winter day in Barrie with ice sculptures, skating, and family activities at Centennial Park—then refuel downtown with cozy après spots.
Event details
You will find one of Ontario’s best free winter festivals right on the shores of Kempenfelt Bay, February 7 and 8, 2026 at Centennial Park. This two-day celebration fills the Lake Simcoe waterfront with ice sculptures carved from 300-pound blocks, fire performances by Canadian Beatbox Champion Scott Jackson and fire artist Pyromeo, and shows by the Great Canadian Lumberjacks at noon, 1:30 PM, and 3:00 PM daily.
Kids love the Snow Valley Mini Tube Slide and Speaking of Wildlife animal encounters at 12:30 PM and 2:00 PM, while the NorthFIRE Circus closes each day with dramatic fire hoops, poi spinning, and fire eating. Arrive by 10:00 AM for shorter tube slide lines, then watch snow sculptor Siggi Buhler work his magic throughout the day.
The Winter Food Vendor Village features BeaverTails, Smoke’s Poutinerie, maple taffy from Lalonde’s Maple Syrup, and a dozen other options. Free downtown parking on weekends makes access easy, or take the free Winterfest Transit Shuttle from Allandale Rec Centre.
Kempenfelt Bay forms the deepest arm of Lake Simcoe, Ontario’s fourth-largest lake and home to the legendary sea serpent Kempenfelt Kelly, the city’s official mascot since 1990. The 6.7-kilometer Barrie Waterfront Trail connects Centennial Beach to Heritage Park along paved paths perfect for winter strolls, passing the iconic Spirit Catcher sculpture along the way.
If festival crowds feel overwhelming, head to Circle at the Centre Outdoor Rink at City Hall for skating, or warm up with the Hot Cocoa Trail, a self-guided tour of downtown shops throughout February.
For dinner, The Farmhouse Restaurant, opened in 2013 by celebrity Chef Randy Feltis in a historic 1890 building, offers farm-to-table comfort food with two patios overlooking the bay. Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery, pioneering Ontario craft beer since 2004, pours 16 rotating taps just steps from the water.
Lake.com lists Lake Simcoe waterfront rentals starting at $185 CAD per night, ideal for groups wanting hot tubs, docks, and morning views across the frozen bay.
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