Music, fireworks and fun kick off Bon Soo (48 photos)

The 52nd annual Bon Soo Winter Carnival officially kicked off yesterday afternoon at the Mill Market with live entertainment on the Marquee Stage, food and refreshments, bum slides, and SAFA snowboarding.

Following the fireworks display at 7 p.m., hundreds gathered at the Machine Shop for a night of local music featuring sets from The Pixo Control, Frank Deresti and the Lake Effect and Treble Charger in their first full-band Sault appearance in 12 years.

In a merger of three generations of Sault talent, the performance ended with the lads from Treble Charger inviting the other two bands on stage for a giant encore of covers of ZZ Top and Neil Young.

Bon Soo continues until Sunday, February 15 with events and activities throughout the city.

The Tim Hortons Winter Playground at Mill Market is open today until 8 p.m. and includes bum slides, dog pull competitions, pony rides, snow sculpting, and snowmobile rides.

For full festival details, please click here.

(PHOTO: The Pixo Control, Frank Deresti and the Lake Effect and Treble Charger during the encore at the Machine Shop for the opening of the 52nd annual Bon Soo Winter Carnival on Friday, February 6, 2015. Donna Hopper/SooToday)