Lampman residents and visitors embraced the holiday spirit during Frosty Fest over the weekend, with activities and events that brought the community together.
The event, organized by Lampman Recreation Director Stacey Trombley, drew a strong turnout and gave Trombley, who recently started in the role, a chance to connect with the community.
“We had a really good turnout of people,” Trombley said. “We had lots of faces that were new to me. Of course, everybody’s new to me because I’m brand new to this position.”
Among the highlights was Santa’s Cookie Jar, where children decorated cookies donated by Scratch Baking and Catering. Kelly Storlie and a team of helpers assisted the young decorators with icing and sprinkles.
At Santa’s Kitchen, Michele Greening and Jocelyne Fornwald, along with their husbands Scott Greening (the town’s new mayor) and Blake Fornwald (Recreation Board chair), served up burgers with help from their “elves.”
Tawney Johnson, with the Lampman Library, hosted Santa's Story Corner in the curling rink lobby, offering a selection of holiday books, as well as arts and crafts activities for kids.
The Lampman Family Center also got involved by running a Santa’s Toy Testing area, where families enjoyed hallway curling and outdoor activities like snowshoeing, adding even more fun to the festival.
A planned horse-and-wagon ride had to be cancelled due to illness, but Calvin Christenson and Blake Fornwald salvaged the outdoor spirit by setting up a bonfire for attendees to enjoy.
The festival also featured a bustling Lampman School’s SCC Marketplace, led by Kate Halkyard, attracting 29 participants, including visitors from Estevan.
Public skating and three-on-three hockey were held at the rink, where Christmas music added to the festive atmosphere. Santa arrived at 1 p.m. with his elf for photos and selfies at Santa’s Selfie Station, giving kids a chance to share their Christmas wishes.
The day also included a creative grand prize draw; a Bingo game that required participants to complete various activities, from singing a Christmas carol to snapping a photo with the mayor. The winner of the $100 prize was Cody Loewen of Estevan, who successfully unwrapped a gift while wearing oven mitts as part of the final challenge.
The festival aimed to bring people together ahead of the busy holiday season.
“We’re just raising those community spirits because we know what winter can do,” Trombley said. “We wanted everyone to come out and celebrate with each other and get to know one another again.”
Trombley, who moved to Lampman from Regina in October, praised the community for its warmth and hospitality.
“This community is just outrageous. They're so amazing. They're so welcoming. It's been really fun getting to know everybody,” she said.
Despite concerns over last week’s strong winds and cold weather, the festival went ahead successfully, with plenty of positive feedback from attendees. Trombley expressed gratitude to the volunteers who helped organize the event and to the community members who participated.