Are you looking for innovative ways to activate your neighbourhood and encourage your fellow community members to get outside and active for the winter months? Take some inspiration from this year’s Heart of Recreation Award winner, Will Roy, Board President and founder of the Sport and Social Club of Cape Breton, who introduced the ”Warm Your Bones Festival” in Sydney in February 2025.
Recognizing that many community members struggle to be socially and physically active during the winter months, the festival was designed to encourage people to get outside despite the cold weather and find ways to stay active and engaged with the community. The festival had three elements: cozy drink/food specials at local venues, a series of recreational activities, and a street party in downtown Sydney. Will spent many hours building partnerships with more than twenty local organizations, venues and facilitators. He also coordinated over a dozen special events, including arts programming (such as drawing, collage, crochet, and writing workshops), physical activities (like winter hiking), and cozy recreational fun (such as board games and a movie night).
The partnerships that Will built with local businesses, artists, and facilitators were keys to the festival’s success. These community members from a range of sectors not only facilitated the programming but also helped people discover new reasons to get out during winter and explore their community. Given the social nature of the events, the festival also fostered social connections between community members, creating the opportunity for participants to meet new people and socialize.
Warm Your Bones fest is the best thing about February. We saw lots of folks brave the weather to come get our Mac n Cheese special! It was fun and something to look forward to during the darkest part of the year.
- Selkies Neighbourhood Diner
Building on the success of last year’s event, the Warm Your Bones Festival 2026 will take place from February 12-22 and will once again feature hot drink and cozy food specials at local cafes and restaurants, crafty, fun activities like board games, crocheting, soap making and paint nights, and activities to get folks active in outdoor spaces. Find out more at www.warmyourbones.ca .
Looking to host your own fun winter events? Find resources to plan your own community events to take the roof off winter at https://www.recreationns.ns.ca/take-the-roof-off-winter.html.