REGINA — Frost Regina has wrapped up its fifth year with one of its strongest showings yet, drawing 46,000 residents and visitors across three packed weekends from Feb. 6 to 22.
What began five years ago as a bold idea to embrace winter has grown into a citywide celebration stretching from the REAL District to Wascana Centre, downtown malls, theatres and neighbourhood hubs. This year’s festival delivered new energy, record crowds and moments that organizers say will echo long after the snow melts.
“Frost Regina continues to show the magic of our community when we come together in the heart of winter,” said Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski. “The creativity of our partners, the commitment of our volunteers and the enthusiasm of tens of thousands of attendees turned cold days into warm memories and made this year’s festival truly unforgettable. Regina is proud to host this incredible event.”
A festival that spanned the city
From Olympic-inspired activities at Mosaic Stadium to sold-out theatre performances and dogsled laps around Wascana Lake, Frost transformed Regina into a winter playground.
At the REAL District, 5,000 people embraced the Olympic spirit inside Mosaic Stadium. The Blizzard Bounce alone saw 2,800 brave participants leap into the cold, while another 800 people strapped on skis or snowshoes for the first time, turning a chilly afternoon into a personal milestone.
Tim Day, manager of community engagement and public relations for REAL District, said, “We are thrilled with how Frost came to life this year. From hands-on sports to family-friendly winter activities and cultural experiences in Confederation Park, seeing so many people engage with the festival shows the power of community collaboration and the joy Regina finds in celebrating winter together.”
REAL’s expanded programming continues to position the district as a year-round event destination, capable of hosting large-scale winter activations that draw families, athletes and visitors together in one place.
Downtown, more than 9,000 people visited JoyLab at the Cornwall Centre, presented in partnership with the Saskatchewan Science Centre. Families lined up for immersive, fantastical photo experiences that lit up social media feeds across the province.
In Wascana Centre, the Provincial Capital Commission revived crowd favourites. Dogsled teams completed 600 laps around the track, while horse-drawn carriages carried families on 200 rides through the winter landscape. New this year were Frost brunches at the Conexus Arts Centre, drawing hundreds to a nearly sold-out culinary experience overlooking the snowy park.
A theatrical phenomenon
One of the biggest success stories came from the Globe Theatre, where Disney’s Frozen became the cultural centrepiece of the festival.
During Frost Regina, 5,760 people packed 12 sold-out performances. The production has since been extended to March 22 and is on track to become the most successful show in Globe Theatre history.
The magic extended beyond the stage. In the lobby, 750 attendees enjoyed Frozen-themed cookies and hot chocolate while getting glitter and tinsel in their hair, an activation created exclusively for the festival.
Powered by partners
Festivalwide, more than 11,000 cups of hot chocolate and apple cider were handed out to help attendees stay warm. Behind the scenes, volunteers, sponsors and community organizations worked for months to bring the event to life.
Frost Regina is made possible through collaboration between the City of Regina, REAL District, Regina Downtown Improvement District, Provincial Capital Commission, Warehouse District, Conexus Arts Centre and Globe Theatre.
The city looks forward to future festivals and building on the success of Frost Regina, which has become a signature celebration of winter, community and creativity in Saskatchewan’s capital.
