By Athena Raypold
Ever since the City of Edmonton began implementing their Winter City strategy in 2013, fun winter activities have snowballed! Between festivals and ongoing activities, Edmontonians have a snowstorm of fun to choose from. There’s no reason to hibernate this winter season – try your hand at these activities as unique as a snowflake and as fun as a snowball fight. [Photo credit: istockphoto.com/ImagineGolf]
Edmonton’s most beloved winter festival is the Ice on Whyte Festival, which runs from Jan. 25 to 28 and Feb. 1 to 4. At the festival, professional carvers come from all over the world to create a wide variety of magical, frozen sculptures. The pros even give kids and adults alike the chance to try their hands at carving, going into a “frosty art frenzy.” The event also offers food trucks, live music and the chance for attendees to try the gigantic ice slide – so make sure the whole family wears snow pants!
Inspired by Matt Gibbs’ master’s thesis for a “Freezeway” – a project that would allow Edmontonians to commute to work downtown on skates – the City created the Iceway, a recreational ice track on the paths at Victoria Park.
For a different sort of skating, check out the Silver Skate Festival. In its 28th year, the family festival at Hawrelak Park is based on Dutch traditions and blends skating, arts and culture and recreation. Spanning Feb. 9 to 19 (and surrounding the exciting Ice Castles), the Silver Skate Festival includes snow sculptures, horse-drawn sleighs and winter sporting events such as speed skating and a winter triathlon. Sticking to Edmonton’s First Nations heritage, you can also cook bannock over an open campfire and enjoy live music.
In its third year in Hawrelak Park, the Ice Castles are back, running until March when the warmer weather begins to melt this masterpiece. A two-acre winter wonderland, the Ice Castle is handcrafted using only icicles and water, resembling natural frozen waterfalls like Maligne Canyon in Jasper. The beautiful ice sculpture, reminiscent of both Narnia and Elsa’s ice castle in Frozen, includes a maze, a throne room, a fountain, an ice slide and small tunnels. Created by ice artist Brent Christensen, the castle is made up of millions of icicles – deep blue by day, lit with lights by night.
Centered around La Cite Francophone’s winter patio, the Flying Canoe Volant is a winter festival celebrating French, First Nations and Metis heritage. The festival includes both indoor and outdoor activities, a snow slide, ice bar, illuminated trails, storytelling, drumming, round dances and an outdoor DJ.
Enjoy the coldest, most dismal months with these exciting events and activities – Edmonton truly is the Winter City.
