If St. Albert firefighters have their way Feb. 16, there will be enough fire on Lacombe Lake to heat up the Family Day Festival in a memorable way.
“This is our second annual Fire and Ice Festival and we’ve had tons of help from city staff and from our local sponsors. Last year, we estimate 3,500 people attended and if the weather is good, we are hoping for even more this year,” said Vince Pashko, who together with a number of firefighters from Local 2130, volunteered to make this event happen.
The heat will come from the fire-wielding dancers at Fable Entertainment, led by Marissa Puff, who last year was a finalist on the TV contest Canada’s Got Talent.
“It’s dance choreographed with fire,” said Puff, who grew up in St. Albert.
Fable Entertainment dancers will twirl fire on batons and hula-hoops. They will leap over fans and perhaps, in the Polynesian style, they will also swing chains weighted with fire.
“Of course there will be ice at Lacombe Lake Park, but we’ll be the fire,” Puff promised.
Lacombe Lake will, however be central to all the activities in the Fire and Ice Festival.
“The pond is the perfect place for this event. We’ll have pond hockey on the west side of the park and maybe the firefighters will lace up their skates and take on the community. There is also a free-skate area for families and especially for little kids,” Pashko said.
Firefighter Tyler Appleyard has spent some weeks perfecting his obstacle course, which last year was one of the most popular activities for youngsters.
“It’s a firefighter obstacle course with a nozzle and hose. At one place the kids have to throw balls at pretend windows. They knock the windows out, then they have to climb a ladder and save the fake cat from a fake tree,” Pashko explained.
The firefighters will also put their fire hoses out for a tug of war competition and Pashko expects that there will be ongoing wars all afternoon.
“It’s the kind of thing where the kids can take on their parents, or they might challenge the firefighter team,” he said.
Horse-drawn sleigh rides will take place all afternoon and in keeping with another icier Canadian tradition, l’Association Canadian Francophone Alberta will be dishing out the frozen maple syrup at the cabane Ĺ• sucre table.
Save-On Foods, Sysco and Tim Hortons will provide hot dogs and drinks such as hot chocolate and coffee so there should be lots to eat at this free event.
“And you won’t be cold,” said Pashko. “Even if the weather isn’t perfect there will be areas to warm up. And if a little guy loses his boot, he can go into the big tent and warm up.”
Pashko believes the Fire and Ice Festival is the perfect fit for the firefighters, who want to give back as volunteers in their community. He expects at least two fire trucks to be on site and everyone is invited to peek inside and even sit up front in the driver’s seat if they wish.
“We’re excited about putting this event on for the community and we hope it continues to be an annual event,” Pashko said.
The Fire and Ice Festival takes place Family Day from noon to 4 p.m. at Lacombe Lake Park on McKenney Avenue. Admission is free but the firefighters are inviting the public to donate to the Family Support Fund for RCMP Constable David Wynn and Auxiliary Constable Derek Bond.
Parking is limited near the lake but St. Albert Transit will provide free Park and Ride service from St. Albert Centre starting at 11:50 a.m. every 10 minutes. The last bus leaves the park at 4 p.m.
Fire and Ice Highlights
Lacombe Lake Park <br />noon to 4 p.m.<br />• Kids firefighter obstacle course<br />• Skating<br />• Pond hockey<br />• Horse drawn sleigh rides <br />• Fire artists<br />• Fire hose tug-of-war<br />• Cabane a sucre<br />• Hot chocolate and hot dogs
