New things to explore at Fourth Annual Sainte-Rose en blanc

The festival will draw lovers of winter activities to its unfolding for the next three weekends, starting this coming Saturday, February 2, and ending Sunday, February 17. Although several new activities will be featured this year, an old notion still prevails: all activities are free.

First among the changes is the pushing back of the program to a week later, to coincide with more suitable winter weather. "We made adjustments for the weather. As well, we felt earlier festivals took place too soon after the holidays. But Sainte-Rose en blanc remains a unique experience, combining culture, heritage, and the fresh air of the great outdoors," says Sylvie Lemay, coordinator of the festival's artistic program.

Tradition will be in lively evidence at a demonstration of wood cutting and ice carving on the parvis (in front) of the church. Brave souls will be invited to show off their talents in these pursuits.

The other venue, Latour School, will be transformed into a mini theatre in which can be enjoyed an intergenerational improv match, a comedy, and an evening of folklore music. In the visual arts, there will be an exhibit of art of yesteryear, a documentary on ice carving, and a performance by a foreign artist in residence.

Outdoors, cultural groups such as the Bons Diables and the Pieds Légers will once again entertain on the church parvis. And let's not forget the reading of fairy tales on horse-drawn sled, and most of all, the historic guided tours which had to be expanded because of the intense demand. Something not to be missed in a district which has marked the history of Laval and Quebec.

Among other innovations are: observation of the sun through special telescopes and

scaling of rock walls.

Last year, an estimated 30,000 visitors enjoyed the offerings of the Sainte-Rose en blanc Festival.