The Town of Newmarket will take a closer look at the success of its new downtown winter event, the Ice Lounge.
Staff will present to council April 15 about the event, which saw winter-themed activities done throughout downtown Main Street on the last weekend of February. Council will also be examining a pride-themed fundraiser and confirming an application for an upcoming carnival.
Here is what NewmarketToday will be following:
Ice lounge
Newmarket’s first-ever Ice Lounge is in the books.
Business development specialist Dave Lowes will present to council to do a post-event analysis on the event that featured igloos, sculptures, booths, firepits and ice bars. The municipality also got an event permit to allow people to have alcohol outdoors throughout the street.
The street saw plenty of pedestrian traffic throughout the weekend, and businesses did praise the first-ever event. However, there were suggestions that more be brought in to keep activity more consistent in the daytime.
Pride fundraiser
NWMRKTproud is ramping up ahead of June’s Pride Month.
The grassroots fundraising initiative is preparing for its Pride t-shirt campaign, with money going to the Newmarket Food Pantry. Representatives from the organization will present to council April 15.
The organization is a “fundraising initiative designed to foster community spirit by raising money to support the Newmarket Food Pantry and also to draw awareness to what a great town Newmarket is to live and work in,” it said.
The organization is seeking corporate sponsorships, as well as promotion and donations for a silent auction to be held at the Market Brewery June 3.
Carnival move
The Joe Pereschini Charity Midway is once again making its way to Newmarket.
Town council plans to finalize the carnival application for the midway, which will be May 9 to 12 at the Ray Twinney Recreation Complex.
The carnival will be getting set up from May 6 to 8 before becoming operational for the May 9 weekend.
The Easter Seals Society of Ontario puts on the event each year, with proceeds going to the organization, as well as Southlake Regional Health Centre.
Staff said it is moving the carnival from the Magna Centre this year, citing parking conflicts with scheduled programs at the Magna Centre.
The move has brought about some noise concerns, though staff said the applicant is mitigating that.
“The carnival applicant’s noise mitigation plan has assured that all rides will be positioned away from the nearest residences in the south parking lot of the Ray Twinney Complex and has committed to controlling and minimizing the overall volume of the carnival activities,” the staff report said.
Staff noted that the carnival has previously not had any noise complaints from residents near the Magna Centre.
The council meeting will occur at 1 p.m. April 15. You can watch the meeting in person at 395 Mulock Dr. or stream at newmarket.ca/meetings. You can arrange a deputation or send correspondence by emailing [email protected]
