New Year, new you –that’s what we all say, right? Each year as party hats are donned, horns blown, toasts made, and the countdown starts, the resolutions start piling up. A new year means a fresh start, a clean slate, and a chance to improve.
These resolutions are of course made with the best of intentions. Did we know when we resolved to eat healthier last New Year’s Eve that three weeks into 2018, we’d be sitting in our house with a foot of fresh snow out our window and a pan of brownies fresh from the oven, just promising to warm us up? Of course not.
Sometimes, resolutions are difficult to keep, but for 2019, we’ve decided to take them more seriously. We’ve resolved to be more resolved (you won’t break us, brownies), and we want to help you do the same! Below are our suggestions for festivals and events across Ontario’s Highlands that will help you keep your New Year’s resolutions.
Resolution #1: Be More Active
Winter in Canada is cold. This means it can be tempting to hibernate a bit; to retreat inside and wait for the warm sunny days of summer to entice us to get outside and get moving. But this doesn’t need to be the case! Dress for the weather and get outside to get your blood pumping, fill your lungs with fresh air, and find out just how fun this season can be.
Canadian National Pond Hockey Championships
Location: Pinestone Resort, Haliburton, ON
Date: Open Weekend January 25-26, 2019 & Masters Weekend February 1-2, 2019
This event captures the true essence of growing up in Canada –the sound of skates scraping against the ice, of sticks connecting with pucks, and of joy at each hard-won goal. Whether you’re participating or spectating, you can celebrate the Canadian sport of pond hockey, feel your heartbeat race as you cheer on teams from near and far, and be amazed by the 700-1000 players who gather to embrace the chill and battle for victory over these two weekends.
Southern Ontario Ice Festival
Location: Maynooth, ON
Date: February 8-10, 2019
Celebrate the sport of ice climbing with old and new friends at this weekend festival. Work your muscles as you climb at Diamond Lake, improve your skills during a clinic, and demo some of the latest climbing toys, before heading to the Arlington for more fun and games into the evening.
Resolution #2: Take Better Care of Yourself
Sometimes we get so busy that our well-being, our ‘me time,’ gets put on the back burner, but that doesn’t have to be the case. You deserve to be a top priority; you deserve to be pampered.
Location: Various locations downtown Perth, ON
Date: January 26, 2019
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Feel restored with massage, reflexology, Reiki treatments, and more while you shop downtown Perth. With practitioners onsite at various businesses for your wellness pleasure, you can search for the perfect find to refresh your life and sign up for a treatment to reenergize your spirit. Embrace a few surprises after your day of exploring by heading to the Psychic Dinner Party at Michael’s Table from 5:30-8:30pm and let a local psychic connect you with those on the other side.
Resolution #3: Spend More Time with Family
Time flies; it’s one of the most precious commodities we have. This year, make it your top priority to spend time together, to watch smiles light your kids’ faces, to witness every inch they grow, and to create memories with your family.
Dorset Snowball Winter Carnival
Location: Dorset Recreation Centre, Dorset, ON
Date: February 15-16, 2019
Gather together to watch the Snowball Parade, and learn about birds of prey before belting your hearts out at karaoke. Transform yourself with face painting, and document the day by donning zany outfits and fun props in the photo booth.
Winter Magic & Maple Harvest
Location: Fulton’s Pancake House & Sugar Bush, Pakenham, ON
Date: February 16-April 22, 2019
Time: Weekdays 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., Weekends & Holidays 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Indulge in some of the sweetest traditions around and watch the delight that spreads through your group with each slice of pancake, pull of maple taffy, or bite of maple cotton candy. Bundle up and take a trip down the tobogganing hill, pile into the back of a horse drawn sleigh or wagon for a tour of the sugar bush, or visit the Sugar Shack to learn about the tradition of making maple syrup together.
Resolution #4: Learn a New Skill
In a world where an overload of information is available right at our fingertips, there are still some things that are better to learn in person. Enjoy the authentic personalities of artists and artisans during a workshop this winter, set your creative side free, and learn new skills directly from the experts.
Making Moccasins Workshop
Location: Carnarvon, ON
Date: January 1-5, 12, 19 & February 16, 18, 2019
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Discover the art of moccasin making as you stitch together soft tanned hide to create your own pair during this day long workshop coordinated by Yours Outdoors. Not able to make it to one of the above dates? This workshop can be booked on alternative dates, pending the instructor’s availability.
Clay Paint Night Workshop
Location: Abbey Gardens, Haliburton, ON
Date: January 16, February 20 & March 20 2019
Time: 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Let your creative juices flow as you decorate your own tea bowl or tumbler in January, create a pendant or piece of jewelry for that special someone in February, or choose your own pottery form to decorate in March.
Resolution #5: Be a Better Partner
Remember what we said earlier about how precious time is? Make time for each other this year to laugh until it hurts, hold hands, and bask in the glow of the moonlight.
TIFF Movie Nights in North Hastings
Location: The Village Playhouse, Bancroft, ON
Date: January 8 & February 12, 2019
Time: 4:15 p.m. & 7:00 p.m.
Embrace a classic ‘movie date’ and spend an evening tucked into cozy theatre seats as you let yourself explore the lives and struggles of others during the TIFF Films Puzzle on January 8th and Colette on February 12th.
Moonlit Snowshoe
Location: Abbey Gardens, Haliburton, ON
Date: January 21 & February 19, 2019
Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Bundle up for an outdoor date, strap on some snow shoes and explore Abbey Gardens under the light of the full moon. Wander through the fields and forests and enjoy a peaceful night together.
Live Music at The Crossing Pub
Location: Sharbot Lake Inn & The Crossing Pub, Sharbot Lake, ON
Date: January 26 & March 23, 2019
Grab tickets for dinner and a show at The Crossing Pub. Be amazed by the musical talent of the Slocan Ramblers on January 26, and become captured by the folksy entertainment of The O’Pears on March 23. Lose yourself in the sounds of the music, the hearty food, and the intimate atmosphere.
Ice Cube Gallery
Location: Bonnie View Inn, Haliburton, ON
Date: February 9 & 10, 2019
Time: 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on February 9th & 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. on February 10th
Be amazed by the artistic displays at this gallery pop up on Lake Kashagawigamog as four local artists, Rod Prouse, Chris Hanson & Hendrika Sonnenberg, and Victoria Ward create installations inside three ice huts for the weekend. Indulge your taste buds with delicious food and libations, hold hands and glide along the ice as the sounds of vinyl spinning from Dan’s retro Russell Red Records fill the air, and warm up by the bonfire.