Winter makes us all feel more isolated. That’s why it’s critical to get outside and connect with others when the temperatures drop. Good thing park groups across Canada are helping us find the light in the dark, warmth in the cold and a ball in the snow. 

Do you count yourself as an ‘indoorsy’ person during the winter months?  Winter can be challenging—it’s dark, cold, and snowy. However, breaking down these challenges can help us discover practical ways to shift our mindset.

We know we benefit when we get outside and connect with others when winter makes us feel isolated. Here are some ideas for how your group can animate parks in winter.

Lighting Up the Dark

The day of the year that brings the fewest hours of sunlight also has the most hours of darkness. Canada’s solstice celebrations celebrate the darkness rather than rage against the dying of the light.

Vancouver’s Secret Lantern Society brings thousands of people together every year for a Winter Solstice Festival, an event celebrating culture and the cycle of nature.

The Festival takes place on a single night across four Vancouver locations. In the lead-up to the event, neighbourhoods throughout Vancouver host lantern-making workshops—some are free, while others require a small fee. A neighbourhood-based lantern procession is the cornerstone of the festival. Residents march through the winter night with their lanterns while dancing, drumming and enjoying fire, art and food to bring the wild rumpus to life. A wild labyrinth of light is lit by over 600 pure beeswax candles. Self-guided walks through the labyrinth help participants recharge and reset.

Playing in the Snow

The most common winter activities—like skiing, snowshoeing, and tubing—require equipment and planning, which can create barriers that make it harder to get outside. But have you heard of yukigassen?

Yukigassen is the sport of snowball fighting. In Japan, Yukigassen, or “snow battles,” have been happening for decades. Organizations like Play Sask in Saskatoon have been hosting snowball fights in parks for years. During yukigassen, players compete to hit all the opposing team members with snowballs or capture the opponent’s flag. Yukigassen players must be 19+ and wear a helmet and eye protection. But other cities have hosted tamer versions using foam balls instead of snowballs.

This Jasper tournament gives you a sense of the game’s intensity:

A magical forest in the city

Imagine a city park transformed into a magical winter forest. At Parc Jarry in Montreal, the Coalition des amis du Parc Jarry (CAP Jarry) launched a creative recycling initiative by turning old Christmas trees into a temporary forest that reflected park-goers’ hopes and dreams.

Montreal residents were invited to bring their old Christmas trees to Parc Jarry and place them in pre-made wooden stands, creating a beautiful little urban forest where people could wander. After a two-week display in the park, a company specializing in repurposing wood collected the trees and gave them new life.

Warmth in the Cold

Part shelter, part art installation, warming huts are designed to draw people out into the cold.

Winnipeg’s warming huts are situated along the River Mutual Trail, which transforms into one of Canada’s longest skating trails each winter. These huts have gained international acclaim as part of a world-famous architectural competition.

In 2024, there were over 200 design submissions from around the globe. Each year, visitors can expect to see unique new designs alongside beloved favourites.

Toronto’s Winter Stations were inspired by Winnipeg’s initiative. The structures are built around pre-existing lifeguard stations on a Lake Ontario beach, with each year’s designs centred around a selected theme that inspires fantastical creations.

Like Winnipeg’s program, Toronto’s Winter Stations transform a typically desolate winter landscape into a vibrant, engaging environment.

Insights for your organization or park group

Are warming stations and solstice festivals too large-scale for your group? Even so, these events offer valuable lessons that can help you foster a winter-friendly mindset in your park.

Divide winter up into blocks of time: Marking the season with events around the solstice, New Year’s Eve, Chinese New Year, and Valentine’s Day can make winter feel more celebratory. Additionally, divide the season into sub-seasons beyond just “Oh Look At The Snow.” Early winter, for example, is perfect for activities that don’t rely on ice and snow—take advantage of longer nights with fire pits, candlelight, stargazing, and lantern-lit nature walks.

Tap into childhood nostalgia: Childhood memories help Yukigassen players propel their snowballs across the field. Of course, not all Canadians have experience with snow, but that’s all the more reason to make it fun. Many cultures have unique winter traditions—by incorporating cross-cultural perspectives, you can create new opportunities for people to build their own winter memories.

Enhance winter with art: Collaborate with local artists, architects, planners, and designers to make winter more vibrant. Look at your existing infrastructure—a fieldhouse, tennis court, or any underutilized space—and think about how it can be transformed into a winter destination. Consider smaller art or design interventions like simple winter scapes or low-maintenance snow forts.