Illuminations on the Square: Saturday, January 29, 2011

This is quite late, but it looks like a BLAST! Happening tomorrow (Saturday).

Copied and pasted from my email:
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Illuminations Lights up the Square TOMORROW

Saturday January 29, 2011
4-10 pm
Churchill Square
FREE!

If you've walked by Churchill Square this week you might have noticed that the Circus is in town! Circus Orange and the Winter Light team have been in full force preparing for Illuminations, happening this Saturday from 4 to 10 pm.

The past week has seen a giant Tricycle blowing off test flames, the installation of a 50-foot high crane above City Hall, and an amazing on-site crew testing the nuts and bolts for custom-built spectacle theatre: rigging, pyro, fire crew, lights, and sound.

Ice on Whyte: Jan 13- 23, 2011

The following is cut and pasted from my email notice of the event!
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Sliiide on into Ice on Whyte

iceonwhyte.ca

January 13-23

Monday-Friday 2 pm-10 pm,
Saturday-Sunday 10 am-10 pm

Festival Park, 85 Avenue and 104 Street

$5/$2.50 kids

Old Strathcona comes shimmering to life with Ice on Whyte!

The 8th annual Ice on Whyte showcases an International Ice Carving Competition with artists from China, Holland, Russia, Armenia, and across Canada.

Ice on Whyte 2011 has a Chinese theme with ice and snow carvers coming from Edmonton’s sister city of Harbin, China. Nine Chinese artists will collaborate with their Canadian counterparts to create a fantasy-filled park that will include a Giant Ice Dragon Slide, an Ice Pagoda, a Great Wall, a Children's Play area and much more.

Warm up with a hot beverage available by donation in the YESS Cafe (in support of the Youth Emergency Shelter Society), then check out the action at the EIA Entertainment Stage with Chinese cultural performances and live blues, jazz, and folk music. Or take the mic yourself with Frozen Friday Karaoke!

Deep Freeze For Sure

I am no keener and the weather on Saturday, not to mention the horrible roads, almost kept me indoors. However, we needed to venture out on an unrelated errand and, so, dropped by the festival. And I am shocked at the amount of people out on such a day! No, I'm not saying it was packed by any means (except the indoor venues and those selling food ;-), yet it was quite decently well attended.

Caged Beasts on the Ave

We wandered around, listened to a spot of music briefly at The Carrot, saw wild caged animals performing some odd ritualistic activity with sticks, caught the end of the Mummer's act, all before checking out the intense music and good food in the main hall. There were ice sculptures diligently at work and ice bars not yet in service. A photo op castle was a hit with many, but nothing beat that dragon sculpted ice slide for the kids! Curling, skating, tobogganing, warming up around the many fire stations! Tipi, free samples from Burt's Bees, Farmer's Market (we bought our eggs!) and Artisan Market. ...and more :)

Ice Bar not in Service

Sculpting Away

Free Wagon Rides

Borrow a Sled and Have Fun!

Are You Cold?

Not Just For the Little Kids ;-)

Backside of the 'castle' wall. Photo Op Anyone?

Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival Jan 8-9!

This weekend Alberta Avenue hosts the third (I think) annual winter festival: Deep Freeze. And I must say it gets better and bigger each year. So, bundle up and come on down for some fun! Oh, and feel free to bring scarf/mitt/hat donations as all Winter Light Festivals have collectors for these times somewhere on site!

Complete program and schedule:  deepfreezefest.ca