This information is from 2016. Check out the Family Fun Calgary Event Guide for a current list of events.
Be enticed by Edmonton at the Ice on Whyte Ice Carving Festival!
“Winter in Edmonton” it’s a phrase that stabs icy spikes of fear into brave men, and sends frigid whispers down the spines of the toughest women. With that kind of reputation, it is understandable that the capital city of Alberta isn’t your first thought when choosing a winter getaway. But I’ll let you in on a little something that isn’t going to stay secret for long: it should be! The truth is hard to deny—for a vibrant city break, Edmonton is hard to beat!
The Fisher’s Fortune (here in progress) by Team Sakha won First Place and the People’s Choice award.Edmonton is proud of the Festival City reputation. During the summer months, you can barely take a step without tripping over a festival, and winter is quickly catching up. One of the biggest and best winter fests is the Ice on Whyte Ice Carving Festival.
The Ice on Whyte Festival is built around an international ice sculpting competition. I’ve always been entranced by how frozen water can be fashioned into such airy, imaginative designs, and after half killing myself to fashion a misshapen heart in the Li’l Chippers igloo, my level of admiration has shot through the stratosphere. The first days of the festival, visitors can watch the 15 blocks of ice each team is assigned become works of art, The following days are dedicated to judging.
In 2015, mild temperatures forced the sculptors to rely on dry ice to keep the “real ice” (specially cultivated at an ice farm to be crystal clear and free from inclusions) in shape. For 2016, with above zero degree temperatures in the forecast, creative solutions are again being explored. It might not be good news for the sculptures, but warm winter temps are good news for visitors!
For my kids the number one draw was swooshing down the massive ice slide. Even my husband and I gave it a go. Wear your snowpants to get the most slip for your buck, or risk getting stuck half way down and having to scoot yourself the rest of the way. Not that that happened to anyone with wet jeans I know.
There are also two smaller ice slides in the kiddie area. These had developed a healthy sheen to them from all those snow-pant-padded bottoms. It was some of the best laughs we had watching these kids launch themselves down the causeway, land in a pile at the bottom, dust themselves off and race back for more. There’s also a snow labyrinth and a giant inflatable igloo hosts “Li’l Chipper” ice carving lessons (short version: it’s crazy hard.)
Ice on Whyte runs from Jan 21-24 and 28-31,2016 at the End of Steel Park, at 105 Street, just north of 82 (Whyte) Ave. Admission is $7 for adults and $4 for kids 2-12, or $20 for families (2 adults and 2 kids.)
The top of the slide at the Ice Castles.
If you go for your own Edmonton adventure:
Other Icy Enchantments: The Silver Skate Festival is the granddaddy of Edmonton winter festivals, and runs from February 12-21st, 2016 . New this year is the amazingly impressive Ice Castles built on the festival site in Hawrelak Park. The castle is now open and is expected to stay until March. Admission gets you in to the breathtaking structure, where you are free to wonder the ice rooms, heat yourself by the imposing fireplace, take a slip down the ice slide or snap a photo seated on the winter throne. Dress warm. Brace yourself for lines and make sure your camera is charged…you are going to want to digitize this experience! Depending on the day and if you purchase your tickets online (which saves time in the line and money on admission) children’s tickets range from $9.95-15.00 and adults are $12.95-20.00.
Skating: The Rideau Canal it ain’t, but the Victoria Freezeway has high hopes of one day giving the Ottawa skating commuterway a run for it’s money. Located in the beautiful North Saskatchewan River Valley, adjacent to the Victoria Oval, the 400 metre figure eight is a neat way to see a little more Edmonton. A word to the wise: the Oval is used by the Edmonton Speed Skating Association and closed to the public certain times. Even when it is public skate, speed skaters may be there, we were greeted by a terse “Kids to the middle!” as we wobbled our way onto the ice.
The water wall in the lobby of the Metterra.Where to stay: We stayed at the swank Metterra Hotel on Whyte Ave. Whyte Ave. is the heart of the party district, but the Metterra is very tranquil, surprisingly so for such a happening location. The earplugs provided to dampen “Whyte noise” leads me to believe it could be a tad boisterous at times, but in our serene room, we didn’t need them at all. Daily breakfast is included, and a wine and cheese tasting is held Monday-Saturday evenings. The boys enjoyed the cheese and snacks with sparkling water. Although the clientele wasn’t particularly child-heavy, we ran into several groups travelling en famille, and all remarked on feeling very welcome and comfortable.
Where to eat: Rosso Pizzeria on 109th is not your average University Area pizzeria. We didn’t have any leftovers…except the arugula the boys picked off. For a Saturday lunch, you can’t do much better than the Old Strathcona Farmers’ Market. The concession at the back of the market is run by Toast Catering, the same folks who just opened the tony Alberta Hotel Bar and Kitchen downtown. The restaurants near Whyte Ave get very busy on a Saturday night, and most won’t take reservations. You may want to consider a late lunch and grab something light for supper. Some of the bars allow kids before 9 pm (like O2 on Whyte) because it’s never too early to get a taste for pub food!
Thank you Travel Alberta and Edmonton Tourism for hosting our trip.
