From sled-dog races to a borscht competition, it has been a busy weekend in Vita.

Organizer Lucie Maynard says the Vita and Area Winter Festival got underway Saturday morning with a pancake breakfast at the Vita Fire Hall and has been followed up with a wide variety of activities.

"The main highlights are always the sled-dog races because we have mushers from all around the world coming to this event to race and obviously all of the other kid's activities and pancake breakfast, that is always a highlight, just two days of jam-packed fun."

The weather has been very cold in the Southeast this weekend, but Maynard says the festival has gone ahead as planned.

"People also head indoors and take part in the vendor craft sale as well as watch some of the three-on-three hockey in the arena. As for the sled-dog races, because of the way the route is, they can follow along in their cars, they don't ever have to leave the warmth of the vehicle. On that aspect, yes it will be cold out but the spectators will still be able to watch the show."

Maynard notes sled-dog racing and Skijoring have become staples at the Vita and Area Winter Festival.

"The local musher that is on this fundraising committee did comment that they would love to keep sled-dog racing in southeastern Manitoba so we are on year three and we are hoping that it is a long-term thing. We have mushers from Quebec, we have some Wisconsin, Saskatchewan, northern Manitoba, some locally in Manitoba, Minnesota, a bit from everywhere."

The Vita and Area Winter Festival wraps up Sunday afternoon at 4 P.M. with an awards ceremony for the sled-dog and skijoring races.