Saskatoon Winter Activity Guide — Sneakers & Lipstick

Confession: I hate the cold. Fact: Saskatoon is winter 50-75% of the time. What am I doing here, you ask? This is my home so I’m MAKING THE MOST OF WINTER, of course. Like my patience as the mother of a toddler in the midst of a screaming phase, it’s a fake-it-til-you-make-it situation over here. So in the spirit of getting out and enjoying this perma-season, I bring you 18 awesome outdoor winter activities in Saskatoon that you, your family, your friend from out of town, really anyone can and should be checkin’ off the list. Let’s enjoy this winter together, dammit!

1. Skating - You’ve heard of the Cameco Meewasin skating rink at Nutrien Plaza (just kidding, you know it as the Bes Rink) but have you been to Boffins? It is a beautiful hidden gem with the sweetest warm-up shack.

2. Sledding - Head to a neighborhood hill or go all out with a trip to the free sledding area at Optimist Hill.

3. Snowboarding, Downhill, and tubing - I mentioned Optimist Hill for sledding, but its big draw is the snowboarding, skiing, and tubes, complete with a lift. Rentals are on premises, see the site for pricing. The season opens December 14.

4. Nutrien Winter Shines Festival. Running Jan 25th-Feb 2 2020, expect ice sculptures, soup cook-offs, and different outdoor activities every year.

5. Take a walk downtown or along Broadway, 33rd Street, or 20th Street to check out window displays, duck into local shops to warm up and check some people off your Christmas list, and recharge in one of the many delicious restaurants or cafes dotting each of those streets.

6. Want to get away from it all? Meewasin trails are so close and yet a world away. Dress warm and explore our beautiful riverbank!

7. Take a drive through the BHP Enchanted Forest (walking tour is January 4) or do a city road trip light tour of crescents. This is a good list but add to it Bell Crescent, Candle Crescent, and Perehudoff (which becomes Rudolph) Crescent.

8. Cross-country skiing - Find trail updates available via the Saskatoon Nordic Ski Club page. Don’t have skis? Rentals are available at Escape Sports, or at Eb’s Source for Adventure whose rentals range from $10-$20/day.

9. Snowshoe - Eb’s also offers snowshoes for a rental fee of $15/day. As a Girl Guide leader of 15 years, I snowshoe once a year whether I feel like it or not! Give it a go. Maybe you’ll like it more than I do.

10. Observatory - Although technically the Observatory on campus is indoors, it’s ages old, is unheated, and you’ll probably be standing in a line that extends outside because it’s super tiny. But that’s the charm! Saturday nights are free and open to the public. Consult the site for hours.

11. Kona Winter Festival - Taking place Feb 8 2020 at Wanuskewin, the Kona Festival is one-day event that offers opportunities for the public to engage in traditional winter-based activities offered through an Indigenous lens.

12. December 8 Sleigh Rides at Farm One Forty. What better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with horse drawn sleigh rides, hot cocoa and a warm fire? The store will be open so you can stock up on a few goodies to make a special Christmas dinner or pick up some gifts that definitely won’t go to waste. Your $30 ticket ($15 for children) includes hot cocoa and sausage on a bun.

13. Fat Bike- Think biking is a summer-only activity? Plenty of people disagree! Take a fat bike for a spin with rentals and plenty of info available at Bruce’s Cycle.

14. Outdoor art tour— check out this awesome roundup or visit the Sculpure Park in the northeast corner of the U of S Campus, beside the Diefenbaker Centre.

15. Holiday Train- I rushed to press publish because… the CP Holiday Train arrives tonight at the overpass on 7th Avenue North (corner of Warburton and 7th Avenue North). Showtime is 8:45!

16. Kick Sled- Escape sports rents this cool cross between a sled and a skateboard. I’m going to try it out and you should, too!

17. Beaver Creek- With beautiful trails and an interpretive centre that’s good for warm-ups and hands-on info, the real draw for me is feeding chickadees all season long. DO THIS.

18. The City of Saskatoon Winter Play Program - Have a kiddo between 2 and 12? Check out the site for full details and mark the dates in your calendar. Free learn to skate? Lots of activities? It’s a win.

Seeya outside!

xo