Every late January, long after the Christmastime visitors have made their goodbyes and the New Year’s Eve revellers have caught their breath, St. Andrews settles into a welcoming winter pace.
The town never fully sleeps; it simply exhales. And just as the season begins to stretch out ahead, the Winter Warmer Festival arrives, turning the heart of winter into a celebration of music, community and Maritime coziness.
The creative force behind it is Jamie Steel of Periwinkle Productions, who has guided the festival through years of experimentation, bylaw puzzles, shifting venues, unpredictable weather and post-pandemic renewal. What began as a simple idea shared with local guitar phenom Ryan LeBlanc has grown into one of the region’s most anticipated winter traditions.
“At first, we imagined a house concert festival,” Steel told The Courier. “Intimate, cozy events. People wandering between living rooms.”
The charm was obvious. The practicality was not. Once tickets were involved, private homes became “commercial venues” in the eyes of municipal regulations, and the festival had to adjust.
Winter Warmer adapted by moving into small local venues such as Sunbury Shores, Honeybeans, the Anglican church hall and The Herring Pub. These rooms preserved the intimacy of the original idea without the legal complications. As the desire for communal experiences grew after the pandemic, larger events were added, including dance nights at the Algonquin and headline concerts at the Huntsman Marine Science Centre’s 200-seat theatre.
Despite this growth, Winter Warmer remains rooted downtown, where the venues sit only steps apart. One can leave a songwriter circle at Sunbury Shores, walk a block through the crisp evening air and slip into DrewHaven before the steam has fully left one’s coat.
“That closeness adds to the feel,” Steel said. “You’re wandering through the town, show to show, warm room to warm room.”
Local support has expanded along with the festival. New venues such as Saint Andrews Brewing Co. have become integral partners, and businesses both open and closed for the season contribute generously. The town’s Recreation Department now runs parallel programming including snow sculptures, trivia nights, cribbage tournaments and family activities that widen the festival’s reach.
This year’s lineup, running from Jan. 29 to Feb. 1, blends regional talent with nationally known performers. Headliner Jenn Grant will take the Huntsman stage just weeks before her new album tour. Friday’s dance features The Wharf Rats, a beloved Grateful Dead tribute band. Bluegrass master Ray Legere returns with a powerhouse ensemble, while rising East Coast voices, including Shane Pendergast, Bouhala and percussive guitarist Asif Ilyas, round out the program. A Sunday songwriter circle brings together artists with Polaris Prize and Sub Pop pedigrees.
The festival also includes a literary event with Andrew MacLean, author of the Backyard History series. A new Saturday brunch at the Anglican church hall adds another layer of community warmth, giving concert goers the chance to break bread with musicians over breakfast.
Winter Warmer proves something Steel, a true Canadian, has always believed. Winter is not something to merely endure. It is something to gather around.
For more information or tickets, visit winterwarmerfestival.ca.
