Youth gather at Fort Smith's snowboard hill during Wood Buffalo Frolics 2025. Photo: Submitted

In pictures: Wood Buffalo Frolics takes over Fort Smith

Shenay Williams·Thursday March 20, 2025 at 5:49am MT

Fort Smith Mayor Dana Fergusson says the town’s 2025 Wood Buffalo Frolics, a festival held last weekend, were “overwhelmingly positive.”

Fergusson, who is an organizer of the event, credited the hard work of volunteers and strong community support for making the festival a success.

“I had such amazing helpers and volunteers, and it made the event go great,” she said.

The Wood Buffalo Frolics mascot greets a happy customer. Photo: Submitted

Players in the Joel Tetso Memorial Hockey Tournament. Photo: Submitted

The Joel Tetso Memorial Hockey Tournament – remembering one of the Fort Smith residents who lost their life in a January 2024 plane crash – brought teams from Délı̨nę, Yellowknife and Hay River to compete.

Fergusson described it as one of the town’s best-attended tournaments in years, featuring four of the town’s own teams.

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“The stands were full and everyone had a great time,” she said.

In addition to hockey, the festival featured classic outdoor competitions like snowshoe racing, log sawing and tea boiling. One of the biggest hits for children was the sugar shack, where fresh maple syrup was drizzled over snow and served on sticks.

“The kids very much enjoyed it,” Ferguson said.

Wall tents set up for Frolics. Photo: Submitted

Kids at the snowboard hill. Photo: Submitted

With the event costing around $45,000 and running from March 13-16, sponsorships and donations played a crucial role in funding everything from venue rentals to live entertainment and prize giveaways.

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To help offset travel expenses, Fergusson said, the winning Fort Smith hockey team donated funds to the travelling Délı̨nę team.

The youth talent show was another highlight, featuring performances from singers, fiddlers, dancers, and even a Rubik’s cube. Organizers held auditions in advance in the hope of creating a well-structured show.

Fergusson said youth associated with that event fundraised the equivalent of just under $20,000 for the Frolics, 15 percent of which was returned to each youth who earned it.

A Taste of Fort Smith food event featured Indian, Filipino and Jamaican food alongside the likes of caribou stew and baked goods.

Looking ahead, organizers plan to move Taste of Fort Smith indoors next year to improve accessibility.