The community of Vita is a busy place this weekend as people from all over gather for the Vita and Area Winter Festival. 

Two of the featured attractions are the dog sled races and the inaugural skijoring races which is a person on skis being pulled by two dogs. Jackie Funk, a festival board member, says although it may be chili, the addition of skijoring has sparked the attention of many people.

"We've had a lot of people this year just contacting us, lots of information, Facebook, we've had a lot of people following and sharing. The cold weather may  turn some people away but there's a lot of interested so I hope they all come out."

Awards for the six and ten dog sled races as well as the skijoring will be handed out Sunday afternoon at the arena. Funk highlights a few other activities from the weekend. 

"There's a hockey tournament, curling, there's a craft fair, lots of kid activities. There are sled dog rides, you can actually go for a ride yourself and horse-drawn sleigh rides. There are lots to see and do this weekend."

Funk adds a personal highlight for her bis to see all the different people coming out to Vita to see these two unique sports.

"That's right, it's the same as the sled dogs like it's something unique to southeast Manitoba. You have to travel a long way to see it so that's what brings something different here, brings in some different people and spectators."

 Funk says the skijoring races continue on Sunday as well as the Dog sled races and rides.