Minden Hills sees the return of its popular Fire and Ice event, Feb. 19 with a few twists.

The town’s Cultural Centre Foundation is organizing the night out after being shelved since 2020 due to COVID-19.

Foundation member, Emily Stonehouse, recalled that event was “a sold-out success.” She said at the time, she was working for the cultural centre, and was looking forward to running it again.

In addition to being paused due to the pandemic, she said, “during that time, there was a shuffle-around with the foundation. There are now new foundation members, myself included, and we bring a unique variety of skills to the table, so I believe this event will be successful once again.”

One of the shifts, she added, was taking a step back from it being an exclusive Scotch tasting.

“We are opening up some opportunities for cocktails and mocktails, created and provided by Ommmh boutique.”

She added there will also be representatives from local restaurants providing “yummy” food. There will be food and drinks through the gallery, as well as bonfires outside.

“The whole event is designed to allow people to taste-test some local foods, and mix and mingle with good company,” Stonehouse said.

It is a 19-plus event, and a fundraiser for programming at the Cultural Centre. It is also done in collaboration with local businesses, “so that we can showcase the talent and variety that we have available in our community. It’s always been a great event, and a nice way to break up the winter blues a bit.”

The event goes 7 to 10 p.m. Tickets are $40, at the Minden Hills Cultural Centre, Up River (in Minden and Haliburton), Ommmh Boutique, Beauty Basics and Castle Antiques. For more information, email mindenhillsccfoundation@gmail.com.

Dorset Snowball

The Dorset Snowball winter carnival returns Feb. 17-18. $5 for a button gets the public in (children two and under do not pay). Festivities kick off Friday at 6 p.m. with a skating party at the Dorset ice palace with music, hot chocolate and a campfire. Saturday gets underway at 10 a.m. with the parade at 10:30 a.m., a lumber jack show, junk yard symphony, wildlife caller, archery, cardboard toboggan and snoe show races. See more at dorsetsnowball.com.