Ice sculptor Barry Collier shifts a chisel in his hand, looks up at the sky and hopes for a cloudy day with no wind.
With the warm weather conditions in the Capital Region, a bright sun would literally dissolve the ice bar he’s shaped for the fifth annual Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival.
The St. Albert resident has been carving ice for about two decades and it’s his second go with the festival. Once again he’s carved an ice bar complete with an interior ice luge for pouring drinks into ice shot glasses.
“People look forward to it. It’s a novelty. Last year it was minus 20 we had a line-up of people ordering drinks at the bar. It’s something different and out of the ordinary,” says Collier.
This free family festival is held today and tomorrow on a three-block radius at Alberta Avenue (118th Avenue) between 92nd and 94th streets. Designed to bring together the community’s varied ethnic background, it celebrates Russian-Ukrainian, Franco-Albertan, Franco-African, First Nations and South American cultures.
“Every year we celebrate the French Canadian and Ukrainian heritage that is a large part of this neighbourhood. Now our neighbourhood is multi-ethnic – Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Chinese, Vietnamese and Aboriginal. In fact, a lot of people that are new to Alberta live here as a starting point,” says producer Christy Morin.
This year the theme is Surf’s Up: A Snow to Sand Winter Adventure. It combines ice sculpture competitions, a deep freezer race, medieval role-playing, Mummers Theatre, a gallery, an arts market, winter games and lots of comfort food.
The Saturday festivities focus on the community’s French Canadian heritage with entertainment from Zephyr Dance Troupe and folk musicians Allez Ouest. Adding a homespun touch will be the traditional Quebecois cabane Ä‚Â sucre, sugar pie and tourtiere.
Saturday also pays tribute to Franco-African cultures with Adaje African Drumming Troupe performing at Alberta Avenue Theatre at 3 p.m.
“They are exuberant, lively and contagious. You can’t sit still,” Morin says.
The heat keeps burning Saturday evening as crowds can kick back with a Surf’s Up Dance featuring the Tsunami Bros. Surf Band starting at 7 p.m.
“They embrace the 1950s-1960s era of surf music of the Beach Boys. They loved the whole Blue Hawaii and Ventures music. The beat is fun and they have very intricate guitar work.”
In keeping with the sand and surf theme, a hot tub will be in full swing and there will be a swimwear fashion show during the day.
Sunday swings into the Ukrainian Byzantine celebrations featuring the gypsy music of the Borscht Brothers, the 30-member St. Nicholas Mandolin Ensemble and the Veselka Brothers Ukrainian Dancers.
Returning to the festival will be Vlad’s Village Pig, a fire-roasted suckling pig served on a bun.
“Last year we sold out within the first two hours.”
New this year, held during both days is the Cool Runnin’s Deep Freezer Race from 12:01 to 1 p.m.
“We have two deep freezers that have been gutted and bolted onto skis. There will be two teams with three people in the freezer and two pushing. You have to sign up in advance and bring your own helmet.”
For the more laid-back, the Two Block Challenge, an ice carving competition starting at 10 a.m. on both days will be in full swing. Competitors will work on two ice blocks weighing about 300 lbs. and are given free rein to form a sculpture.
Over at the art gallery, 26 artists including Legal’s Natiliya Bukhanova and St. Albert’s Samantha Williams-Chapelsky will showcase their art. While every piece is a wall hanging, Williams-Chapelsky’s The Story House, is the gallery centrepiece, an interactive exhibit of three sculptures of houses.
“She provides a book with blank pages. People are asked to participate by writing a story about the house. It’s just a way to further engage people,” says gallery co-ordinator Pam Baergen.
Throughout both days, organizers have planned a variety of activities including curling, an ice-frame of tic tac toe, ice-skating with free rentals and an ice slide.
Over at the First Nations tepee, Marc and Philip Campiou will dance and tell stories while roving artists roam the festival site and the annual stellar street hockey tournament battles it out.
Morin closes by saying, “Now with the freezer races and African entertainment, it’s really bringing out the community. But it’s still true to its arts and music roots. It’s wonderful to see how the community is growing. I’m delighted it’s become so intergenerational and fun, and I love watching it take place.”
For more information visit www.deepfreezefest.ca.
