Snowy 'Cold Front' festival blankets Bayfront Festival Park

girl eating s'more — Hallie Hilleren, 6, left, enjoys a s'more while with her mother, Brittany Hilleren, center, and brother Cooper Hilleren, 4, all of Duluth, at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

By Abigael Keely Smith

February 05, 2022 at 4:26 PM

DULUTH — Duluth Parks and Recreation hosted its fifth annual "Cold Front" festival in Bayfront Festival Park on Feb. 5. Family-friendly events lasted all day, filled with wintry fun.

Bayfront's "Cold Front" festival soon became a snow globe as snow blanketed Duluth. Even in a winter weather advisory, community members of all ages played in the snow. Kids rode with sled dogs around Bayfront Festival Park, skied, and roasted s'mores over a fire with families.

two people moving through the snow — Shawn Ewer, right, of Duluth, walks with his grandson Cashis Kilby, 7, of Duluth, during Cashis' first time Nordic skiing while attending the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

It was Nancy Ewer's first time trying out the festival. Ewer brought her two grandchildren who patiently waited for the sled dog rides, bundled for adventure.

"It's a snowy day, it's the perfect day to come and go sledding. The kids are gonna go for a ride on the sled dogs," Ewer said. "We're gonna do some skating, maybe try some cross-country skiing."

sled dogs and musher — Ward Wallin, of Silver Creek Township near Two Harbors, guides a sled dog ride for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

Warmth oozed from fire pits to spark smiles as Northlanders braved the first snowy day in a while. Businesses and Duluth Parks and Recreation staff provided food and hot drinks.

Courtney Lovas, event manager at Great Lakes Aquarium, handed out complimentary hot cocoa to promote their new "Otter Slide" fundraiser. Lovas said the wintry event is a great way for Great Lakes Aquarium to engage with the community.

people at an outdoor tent — Great Lakes Aquarium employee Katie Pease, center, of Esko, and Ryan Levak, a volunteer, answer questions while standing under the Great Lakes Aquarium tent at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

"We like to partner with local community members, so we're just here happy to get out and see people's faces," Lovas said. "It's really nice that Duluth folks are so hearty and willing to come out. People just want to be involved, and so do we."

Duluth Parks and Recreation staff member Jessica Peterson said the event succeeded in drawing more community interest into outdoor programs and events. The "Cold Front" festival was intended to promote greater engagement with Duluth parks throughout the year, she added.

kids sledding — Bailey Zurn, 6, front, and his sister Lily Zurn, 4, of Duluth sled down a hill at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

"We're really happy to be able to give people opportunities to play outside in the winter. Winter can be a little more difficult, so it's nice seeing families out today. It's such a beautiful snow-globe day."

girl roasting a marshmallow — Hallie Hilleren, 6, of Duluth roasts a marshmallow while standing next to her mother Brittany Hilleren at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022.

1/18: As snow falls, people wait in the line for the dog sled rides for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

2/18: Sandra Solem, left, of Duluth pulls Eva Solem, 6, and Victor Solem, 3, of Duluth in a sled while waiting in the line for the dog sled rides for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

3/18: A fire burns in a metal pit at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. In the background, Renee Burns, of Duluth, gestures with her left arm while relaxing with twin children Vivian and Eloise, both 2, during the fifth annual Cold Front Festival. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

4/18: Visitors to the fifth annual Cold Front Festival on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 sat in a trailer during a tractor ride through Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

5/18: Natalie Baker, 5, of Hermantown, enjoys a s'more next to a fire at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

6/18: Alaskan huskies from Silver Creek Sled Dogs near near Two Harbors approach the end of a sled dog ride for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

7/18: A decorated snow sculpture as seen during the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

8/18: Bobbie Larson of Ski Hut in Duluth helps prepare cross country skiing trails while a kids sled dog ride happens in the distance during the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

9/18: An Alaskan husky from Silver Creek Sled Dogs near Two Harbors waits before a sled dog ride for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

10/18: Otter mascots from the Great Lakes Aquarium entertain visitors at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022 at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

11/18: Bailey Zurn, 6, left, and his sister, Lily Zurn, 4, of Duluth, sled down a hill at the fifth-annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

12/18: Lucy Erickson, 11, right and Alice Erickson, 6, both of Duluth, take part in a sled dog ride for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

13/18: Brittany Hilleren, center, of Duluth prepares a marshmallow for roasting for her daughter Hallie, 6, while her son Cooper, 4, takes in the sights at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

14/18: Ward Wallin, of Silver Creek Township near Two Harbors, prepares to guide a sled dog ride for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

15/18: People relax near a fire and a decorated snow sculpture at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

16/18: Silvia Carrick, 5, of Duluth, left, Nova Hendrickson, 8, of Hermantown, second from right, and Luella Marc, 8, of Hermantown, 8, right, pose at a snow sculpture at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

17/18: Colleen Wallin, of Silver Creek Township near Two Harbors, holds a harness with sled dogs after a sled dog ride for kids at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Wallin recently finished third in the 2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune

18/18: Renee Burns, second from left, of Duluth, grabs a marshmallow from her husband Zach Burns, right, as twin children Vivian and Eloise, 2, look on while relaxing near a fire at the fifth annual Cold Front Festival at Bayfront Festival Park in Duluth on Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022. Dan Williamson / Duluth News Tribune