Ontario's oldest winter carnivals ends with a demolition derby in the snow

After a long and restrictive pandemic, the Town of Cochrane unleashed Ontario's oldest winter carnival.

Cohrane’s mayor Peter Politis said it was established in 1934.

The carnival now spans more than a week and offers unique events like a demolition derby. It takes place in a coliseum made of snow at the town's snow dump. It gives spectators a bird's eye view to all the crashes.

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“It’s always a great way for us to let our emotions out, have a great time as a last hurrah,” said Politis.

“And you know what could be more northern than vehicles bumping around in the snow."

He said the smash-up derby has become a staple at the Cochrane Winter Carnival and it's the last big event on the schedule that attracts many people from out of town.

“You can tell that we’ve come through a pandemic and folks are ready to come out and get back to normal," Politis said.

"Every event has been busting at the seams with people: people celebrating who they are; enjoying who they are."

Some of the derby participants said this one was their first and they'll look forward to more.

“Oh you just get to smash other cars which you don’t get to do on the normal streets," said Steven Campsall, who came from Matheson to participate in the derby.

One participant in the derby told CTV News it is a blast to smash cars. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)"It was a blast. The next one’s coming up in Iroquois Falls on March 11th and we’re going to enter two cars into that one.”

The theme of the 61st Cochrane Winter Carnival was 'Television Through the Decades'

For photos or more information on the carnival, visit their Facebook page.

Crowds of spectators from all over Ontario make their way to Cochrane for the winter carnival's demolition derby. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)