This winter carnival experience is the largest in Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario’s largest winter carnival, Bon Soo, is gearing up to bring the community together for an evening of winter thrills and family fun.

Starting Feb. 13, 2026, Sault Ste. Marie will kick off its 63rd annual Bon Soo carnival. Considering the city is about a seven-hour drive away from Toronto, it’s worth planning ahead if you do decide to attend.

What to expect

The opening ceremony kicks off at 5 p.m., and attendees can enjoy a true Canadian experience with some delicious taffy at Hogan’s Homestead Taffy Bar. According to organizers, you get to roll your own maple taffy.

Be sure to stick around for a musical performance by Silent 9, who will surely set the tone for the nine days thereafter. It starts at 7:30 p.m.

The evening will continue with free skating at the rink and bum slides. Though festivities will end around 9 p.m., the excitement continues for days to follow.

On Feb. 14, there will be a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and trailer rides from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The wide selection of festivities can be found on the official Bon Soo website.

Bon Soo Winter Carnival and its history

The Bon Soo Winter Carnival has been a beloved, annual festivity, cherished for years. According to organizers, it started with a community of individuals coming together to create something meaningful for all to enjoy.

“The idea for the event began in 1963, but it wasn’t until a year later that the Bon Soo Winter Carnival became an official and annual event,” shares the website.

“Bon Soo was created and designed by local artist Ken MacDougall in 1963 to symbolize the winter carnival, and the name for the character sprang from the imagination of an elementary school student, Donald Norman.”

Although it had humble beginnings, it has now become a quintessential way to show off Northern Ontario hospitality.

If you happen to find yourself in the area, enjoy all the fun Bon Soo has to offer.

Afterall, we have to make the most out of the winter season!

When: Feb. 13 to 21, 2026
Where: Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
Cost: $8+

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Karen Doradea

Senior Staff Writer, Toronto – Karen is a multimedia journalist based in Toronto. With a strong knowledge of reporting and editing through all forms of media, she has a true passion for storytelling. She carries several years of journalistic experience and has covered the Toronto scene from local stories to national news. When Karen isn’t publishing fire content, you can find her binge-watching sitcoms on Crave, at a must-try restaurant, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok looking for the next best thing – News never sleeps.

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