62 Years of Winter Magic: The Bon Soo Winter Carnival is Back for 2025!

Celebrating uniquely Canadian events that bring communities together has inspired our Winter Wonderland Spotlight series from coast to coast, a feature embraced by Teachers on Call’s in-person and online tutoring service. With that in mind, get ready to celebrate 62 years of winter fun at the Bon Soo Winter Carnival, running from February 7th to 15th, 2025! This iconic festival, hosted in Northern Ontario’s Sault Ste. Marie is powered by a passionate 100% volunteer board dedicated to creating an unforgettable experience for families and visitors alike. Whether you’re zipping down a bum slide, skating under the twinkling lights, or diving into the icy waters of the Polar Bear Plunge, there’s no shortage of adventure. Plus, don't miss our exclusive interview with Amelia Morris, Vice President of the Bon Soo Board of Directors, where we dive deep into what makes this year’s carnival extra special.

The Bon Soo Winter Carnival is the perfect opportunity for families to bond and learn together, so don’t miss the family-friendly fun. From discovering the history behind the iconic event to engaging in outdoor activities that promote teamwork, creativity, and physical activity, this festival offers a fun and interactive way for everyone to experience the joy of winter while making lasting memories. The online and in-person tutoring team at Teachers on Call highly recommends Sault Ste. Marie’s carnival for families, as it provides a hands-on learning experience—whether you're exploring the science of winter or embracing the community spirit of this iconic event. Grab your Bon Soo Button and get ready to explore all the frosty fun!

Participating Bon Soo Winter Carnival Locations:

Located on the north shore of the St. Mary’s River, directly across from its "twin city" in Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie—affectionately known as "The Sault" (sounds like "The Soo")—hosts this beloved winter celebration in Northern Ontario.

With so many exciting events, there are so many locations to visit. The three main zones for the carnival are:

• The Machine Shop: Located at 83 Huron St, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 5P9 this venue hosts events such as the opening ceremonies, concerts, and the popular bum slides.
• Northern Superior Brewing Co. Taproom: Situated at 50 Pim St, Sault Ste. Marie, ON, P6A 3G4 this location offers live music performances and the Fire and Ice Hot Sauce Challenge.
• Downtown Plaza / Clergue Park: Located at 526 Bay StSault Ste. Marie, ON P6A 1X5, this area features outdoor skating events and family-friendly activities.

You can find our full event program, here: https://bit.ly/2025BonSooProgram

Frosty Fun and Community Spirit: A Chat with Amelia Morris, Vice President of the Bon Soo Winter Carnival Board of Directors

This year marks the 62nd Bon Soo winter carnival—a significant milestone! Can you tell us about the history of the festival and how it has evolved to become such an iconic event in Sault Ste. Marie?

The Bon Soo Winter Carnival started with a community of individuals coming together in the spirit of fun to create an enjoyable event for all ages! 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. 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. Call it a bit of winter magic!

Throughout the years, the Bon Soo Winter Carnival has fostered a spirit of inclusivity and a coming together of the Sault Ste. Marie community. The festival has been a way to show off the Northern Ontario hospitality, as well as provide a fun and entertaining break during the dark winter months. By increasing fun-filled activities for all ages year-over-year, the city has steadily grown the carnival to being the largest winter carnival in Northern Ontario!

Since its humble beginnings, the Bon Soo Winter Carnival has been led and run by volunteers - people within the community who love where they live and want to create something cool (no pun intended!). The spirit of Bon Soo continues on to this day as a small, dedicated team and board of volunteers work hard to put together a week of activities for all to enjoy.

Bon Soo offers an incredible variety of events and activities at different locations. Can you highlight some of the key events and venues, and explain how they cater to a wide range of interests and age groups?

Absolutely, the Bum Slides are back in a major way and we are thrilled. We will also have the Tenaris kids zone full of fun activities. We have a big opening ceremonies night with fireworks, our headliner concert Steven Lee Olsen's Country Night in Canada Tour featuring Jojo Mason, the Polar Bear Plunge, our well-loved EDM Sno Bath at Northern Taproom, a new Polar Pursuit winter obstacle course, the illusionist Ryan McFarling, a great comedy night with This Hour Has 22 Minutes head writer Jordan Foisy and cast members Stacey McGunnigle and Chris Wilson, our Fire and Ice Hot Sauce Wing Challenge, many skating events at our downtown plaza, a family dance at the Machine Shop, activities at the library, and much more. The Gathering at the Rapids Pow Wow is also taking place during the week and the invitation is extended to all.

The Bon Soo buttons and jacket tags are a unique feature of the festival. Where can visitors purchase them, and can you explain their cost, as well as what access or benefits they provide throughout the carnival?

You can find all the information here! Jacket tags are $8 and buttons are $12. They get you the same access to Bon Soo.

Bon Soo celebrates the cultural diversity of Sault Ste. Marie, including the Francophone community. How is the French language and culture integrated into the festivities, such as with events like the Francophone Family Skate?

The Francophone Family skate is a fantastic opportunity for members of our Francophone community to participate in Bon Soo in a way that feels true to their community.

Festivals often bring communities together through food. What types of food and snack options will visitors find at Bon Soo? Are there any local vendors or signature treats you’d recommend?

We will be having vendors at both our opening ceremonies and our snackers alley. I have linked the details to each! We would recommend trying them all!

The sauna raffle has become a highly anticipated part of Bon Soo. Can you share more details about this unique tradition, how it started, and what makes this year’s raffle so special?

This year will be special as it is our first! You can find all our sauna details here. We are excited to provide Bon Soo lovers an opportunity to win this fabulous sauna provided by Serenity Life Saunas in partnership with Soo Mill.

Bon Soo is a special, volunteer-led festival that brings the community together. What types of opportunities are available for individuals and volunteer teams? How can students get involved to earn community service hours or gain experience, and what makes volunteering for Bon Soo so rewarding?

We are currently not taking in any more volunteers. However, in general, the Bon Soo board of directors is completely volunteer based. When it comes to regular volunteers there is an opportunity for folks of all ages in our outdoor programming but indoor as well. Students can get involved, we have many who chose to do it for community hours which is a great way to gain said hours in a positive environment.

How many guests are you expecting at this year’s carnival, and where do visitors typically come from to experience Bon Soo?

We are expecting plenty of guests this year, and they come from all over with a focus on the Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario area, Sault Ste. Marie MI, and Northern Ontario.

Mr. Bon Soo is such an iconic and beloved part of the festival. How does the mascot help embody the spirit of winter, bring the community together, and make the event memorable for visitors of all ages?

Mr. Bon Soo brings a sense of fun to children and nostalgia to adults. Mr. Bon Soo attends as many events as possible so that community members can see their beloved mascot and take pictures with him! You can find more on Mr. Bon Soo's history here.

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No matter your interests, the Bon Soo Winter Carnival has something to spark excitement and curiosity. From history buffs learning about the festival’s rich past to science and math lovers diving into the wonders of winter, there's endless opportunities to explore and learn. Whether you’re calculating the perfect bum slide speed, understanding the effects of cold on the body, or marveling at the unique properties of snow, the Bon Soo Winter Carnival transforms the chilly season into a fun and educational winter classroom. So bundle up, grab your Bon Soo Button, and get ready for a week of adventure, learning, and unforgettable memories! Looking to learn about more of the winter festivals and activities happening across Canada? Check out our recent features on Edmonton’s Silver Skate Festival, Sudbury’s fan-favourite Walden Winter Carnival, or Winter FunDays in Thunder Bay.