Snow is covering the ground, ice sculptures are being carved, temperatures are warming and this weekend’s Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival is getting ready for packed crowds.
“We’re so excited when we have Deep Freeze weather that warms up to minus 15. After this deep cold snap that’s hung around, we put on our Birkenstocks, and we think it’s balmy,” says Deep Freeze Festival executive director Christy Morin, laughing.
The community festival on 118th Avenue between 90th and 95th Streets, takes place Jan. 20-21. It is a nod to the area’s Ukrainian, European, French Canadian, Franco-African, Latino, Métis and Indigenous roots.
This year’s theme is Under the Toadstools inspired by Morin’s childhood memories of foraging for morel mushrooms in Alberta’s bush country.
“I wanted something that could connect all cultures,” Morin said adding that “when you think about mushroom picking and berry gathering it is part of many cultures and it’s all about Alberta. They are given to us by the land. They’re free and nutritious.”
The two-day festival attracts an average of 50,000 visitors depending on weather conditions. Excited about this year’s events, Morin and her team have woven together a cultural tapestry of captivating performances, traditional dance, popular music, and multiple flavours of cultural foods and art.
There are more than 33 performers entertaining on various stages throughout the site. They range from fiddler Calvin Vollrath, folklorist Chantal Marie and Caribbean dance instructor Ivan Touko to musical theatre singer Julien Constantin, alternative pop and soul singer Karimah, and the Wajjo Drummers.
Randomly scattered throughout the site are a series of activities including roaming balloon creatures, Chinese lanterns, shadow puppetry, Albertavia Mummers Collective, Hong De Lion Dancers, stiltwalkers and The Ravens Vikings.
Anyone looking for winter action can test out the giant ice slide, check out ice sculptures, compete in the deep freezer races, hop on the horse and wagon rides, join a street hockey tournament or scope out axe throwing.
If hunger sets in, visitors can buy freshly roasted chestnuts warmed on an open fire, or a hot dog with all the trimmings. And in true Viking or medieval knight tradition, a fire-roasted suckling pig is served on a bun with fresh-baked beans both Saturday and Sunday.
There’s also a Perogy Making Showcase and Tourtière Baking Showcase, both at The Hearth in Alberta Avenue Community League, 9210 – 118 Ave.
“We’re hoping for more entries for the perogy showdown. Just call the Carrot Cafe and register. And the winner of the Tourtière showcase wins bragging rights to the Best Tourtière in the province,” Morin said.
Due to limited snowfall, snow sculptures are not part of the 2024 festival. However, the arctic cold has given ice sculptor Barry Collier and his team additional incentive to carve magical creatures borrowed from the festival’s toadstools theme.
The festival is free, however donations are accepted to subsidize events and activities at designated sites. This year organizers are also mounting two dance parties on Saturday night. Latin band Manny V. Y. Su Esquina Latina shakes it up at the Snow Globe Pavilion from 6:30 p.m. to 8:45 p.m. while fusion band Le Fuzz dances up a storm at The Hearth. Tickets are $20 for one party or $35 for both. Children up to 12 years enter free while youth 13 to 17 pay half price.
The festival is also in desperate need of 140 volunteers to man various positions. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can sign up online at deepfreezefest.ca.
“Come to the festival. It’s the first festival of the year and one of the most delightful winter festivals. There is something for everyone. This whole district is historical and beautiful. It’s waiting for everybody to come, and we invite everyone to be part of it.”
