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Fire and Ice Festival

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Event Details

This event finished on 20 January 2019

Fire & Ice is a beloved community tradition every January in Alton, and 2019 marks the 10th Annual Festival! The Alton Mill Arts Centre invites visitors to playfully reclaim the joy of the Canadian winter at the 10th annual Fire & Ice Festival, January 19 & 20. This year’s all-ages festival is a curated mix of fan-favourite activities from the past decade and new programming for a growing festival audience. Experience ice sculptures and bonfires, guided forest walks, a petting zoo, geocaching, art workshops, food trucks and beverages, live music, extended hours for millpond skating, and more.

The after-dusk fire sculpture on Saturday evening is a festival highlight that has now outgrown its traditional site between the wall of the Mill’s Annex ruins. This year, spectators watch the burn from a new location on the grounds, described by festival co-ordinator Jeremy Grant as a “natural amphitheatre.” The 2019 sculpture is by artist Brian Oates, accompanied by music crafted for the occasion by Paul Morin, and sponsored by Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. Ice-sculptors John McCartney, Chris von Innerebner, Winston Uytenboggart, Monica Bishop, Billy Waterson and Cam Menken use chisels and chainsaws to create frosty masterpieces throughout the weekend, while blacksmith Glen Beale heats up the Livery with live demos.

Warm up inside: festival-goers are invited to explore galleries in the restored heritage site, and meet the Mill’s resident artists in their working studios, from 10am-5pm on both days. Headwaters Arts exhibits “Shift,” a showcase of regional artists making a departure from their usual style. The Hive Encaustic Studio, expressive-arts teacher Michele Johnston, and Orangeville’s art educator of the year, CJ Shelton, host workshops for the public. Textile market Rare Threads showcases Nordic-inspired fashions, and serves up Icelandic cake. Throughout the weekend, enjoy the live music of Tragedy Ann, Sandy Harron, Mikalyn Hay, and jazz ensemble Hot Jaws.