Ripley Lions Costume Skate draws great crowd to kick off Ripley Winter Carnival

About 60 young people, along with parents, grandparents and friends, gathered at the Ripley Arena for the Lions Costume Skate, kicking off the Ripley Winter Carnival weekend, Friday night.

There were lots of colourful costumes, ranging from lions, owls and monkeys to princesses, firefighters and hockey players.

It was a difficult decision, but the judges managed to award prizes to the following:

Preschool and Junior Kindergarten
 

• 1st - Erin Ackert
• 2nd - Nathan Paul
• 3rd - Kelsey Thompson
• 4th - Cole Vander Hoek
• 5th - Hadyia
• 6th - Victoria Yungblut

Senior Kindergarten and Grade 1
 

• 1st - Jackson Lush
• 2nd - Myles Castles
• 3rd - Abbey Goncalves
• 4th - Summer Gallina
• 5th - Rhys Thompson
• 6th - Kyla Dewar

Grades 2 and 3
 

• 1st - Leah Paul
• 2nd - Brett McDonnel
• 3rd - Jocelyn Curran
• 4th - Cuyler Liddle
• 5th - Reid Dewar
• 6th - Harlow

Grades 4, 5, and 6
 

• Brianna Pointon
• Mikayla Gallina
• Andie Lush
• Emery Harper
• Jacob Curran
• Evan John

Grades 7 to High School
 

• Seth Harper
• Myles Courtney

Youngest Participant - Dana Ackert, four months old
Best Valentine Costume - Lyla Kozak
Best Group - Calder and Cuyler Liddle, and Parker Armstrong

The evening ended with skating races for the various age groups.

The Ripley Winter Carnival continues Saturday (Feb. 18), at the Ripley-Huron Community Centre, with a pancake breakfast from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; horse-drawn sleigh rides, beginning at 10 a.m.; a hockey skills competition from 1:15-2 p.m.; ice-painting from 2-3 p.m.; and senior euchre and bridge, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

Hockey games will also be running all morning, plus free public skating from 5-6 p.m. No galleries loaded.