Left to right, Eric Charabin (club president), City of North Battleford Councillor Greg Lightfoot, and Shane Draganuk (volunteer) at one of the club's shacks near Jackfish Lake. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Snowmobile festival

Battlefords Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club to host 2024 provincial festival

Jan 19, 2024 | 4:22 PM

Get ready for some snow fun for the family!

The Battlefords Trail Breakers Snowmobile Club are gearing up to host the Provincial Snowmobile Festival on February 23 and 24.

This is the first time the Battlefords club has put on the event in the past eight years, so the organizers are looking forward to it.

Club President Eric Charabin describes the festival as like the Olympics of the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association (SSA).

“It’s the biggest deal that gets put on,” he said.

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About 60 volunteers are already signed up to take part.

The festival will include family games, vintage sled displays and rides, and a banquet and dance, among the many activities planned. All sleds must be registered to take part. Sled storage is available at Ritchie Bros/Kramer Trailer Sale, and a free shuttle service is available to area hotels.

Club member Shane Draganuk, who is also volunteering with the festival, said the club has been busy planning for the event.

He added that next year the club is looking at tying in some new trails to its existing ones to keep improving its trail system.

The club’s trail system includes about 15 shacks with a wood stove where riders can rest, warm up and have a bite to eat.

The City of North Battleford and Town of Battleford are also promoting the festival, encouraging people to come take in the event.

North Battleford Councillor Greg Lightfoot, who is also part of the club, will be volunteering with the event as well.

“There are about 485 kilometres of snowmobile trails here that go all the way north of Turtle Lake, so there are obviously some of the best trails in the province, and obviously some of the nicest shacks, as you can tell by this one here,” he said, he said while visiting a shack near Jackfish Lake . “Plus, we have some of the best amenities and hospitality in North Battleford. It would be a great idea to make your way out here February 23rd and 24th for the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Festival.”

Lightfoot noted the festival will also be a benefit to the Battlefords for tourism.

“As of right now, I heard there are 120 members registered [for the event],” he said. “It’s certainly an economic driver, between the fuel, hotels, the banquet and the rest of the [activities]. I think it’s going to be a great event to put North Battleford on the map, just to show how well we can host a great event like that in North West Saskatchewan. We’re really looking forward to it.”

Lightfoot estimates there could be about 200 people attending the event.

City council recently approved a new trail to come into North Battleford to help with the snowmobile club’s offerings, and improve access to hotels and gas stations for snowmobilers. The new 3 km trail addition has now been completed, which will also help with the festival activities.

“It makes it easier for the snowmobiles to get out and around,” Lightfoot said.

People can register for the Provincial Snowmobile Festival through the SSA website or at SaskSnow.com .

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW