Celebrating the snow at the Eighth Annual Cold Front Festival

Celebrating the snow at the Eighth Annual Cold Front Festival

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“One of the things we really love about cold front is that we’re able to just celebrate winter recreation. You know, we live up here in the northland and so we always want to encourage people to get out into our park spaces and try something new,” said Megan Lidd, recreation specialist for Duluth Parks and Recreation.

After two years of little snowfall and warm temperatures, people like Lidd welcomed the snowflakes that coated their heads during the Eighth Annual Cold Front Festival in Bayfront Festival Park.

“So, we’re really excited to actually have a little bit more snow this year. We had a little bit last year and we’ve got a little more this year, and so we’re excited that we’re still able to host most of our same activities even with just a little bit of snow,” said Lidd.

Cold Front honored outdoor activities including sledding, sleigh rides, figure skating, and even shoveling snow.

“We kind of like to call this our winter sampler and love to show people different ways they can get outside and recreate, even in the winter months,” said Lidd

With the fun, also came education resources, such as Be Minne-Snow-Ta Nice, a Duluth organization that raises awareness for keeping our outdoor walkways clean.

“With clear sidewalks, people are able to access bus stops. They’re able to access all of the places they need to go. We really worry about falls in the winter with snow and ice on the sidewalk. So, it’s just important,” said Mimi Stender, member of Be Minne-Snow-Ta Nice.

Be Minne-Snow-Ta Nice and Snow Scholars came together for the festival to help teach about the importance of shoveling, not just for oneself, but for their neighbors as well.

“We really enjoy getting to be here and just to help out members of the community by shoveling if they can’t deal with themselves. Like you said, it’s really important to make sure all the sidewalks and driveways in the city are clear so people that necessarily can’t get out and shovel have that option,” said David Wolkerstorfer, student shoveler for Snow Scholars.

As the snow continued to fall, smiling faces filled Bayfront Festival Park, celebrating the fun despite the cold.