High on Ice Festival thrills Fort St. John with stunning ice sculptures and Lorax Storywalk

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Ice carvers and attendees alike are singing the praises of Fort St. John’s biggest winter festival returning over the long weekend. 

Over its three-day run, the High on Ice Winter Festival at Fort St. John’s Centennial Park featured ice carving events, ice slides for people of all ages to experience and a display featuring Dr. Seuss’s book The Lorax.

Ryan Cook, one of the festival’s ice carvers, says the event provides unique opportunities to its talent. 

“It’s a festival that is like no other in the world. It’s what carvers like us dream to come to because we get to create these amazing sculptures and it’s not a competition,” said Cook. 

Julie Vanderhorst, who travelled to the event with her friend Tracey Hotston, said: “The ice is cool. They do a really good job, it’s amazing what they can do with a block of ice.

“I think this might be the highest slides we’ve ever had here. They’re really cool to watch the kids come down.”

The event also featured veteran ice carvers such as Dmitri Klimenko and Kevin Lewis, who displayed their hand-crafted sculptures. 

Klimenko was responsible for the festival’s biggest displays and was featured on the city’s live stream where he carved a unique piece for viewers. 

“The ice is an amazing material, wonderful media that allows you to play with it in different ways,” says Klimenko.

He has practiced the skill since 2001 and returned to High on Ice for the 12th year.

The Lorax Storywalk was created by ice carvers David Ducharme and Susanne Ruseler.

The pair says the walk-through was made with story cards, sound effects and sculptures referencing the book.

“I think in terms of the variety of elements this year, it is really, really unique and really good chance to come out,” said Ducharme. 

Andriy Gaponov, who moved to Fort St. John last summer, said he and his family attended the festival for each of its three days.

“It’s extremely cold, but yeah, it’s very nice here. The kids like it here. It’s the third time we’re here; we were here yesterday and the day before yesterday. It’s awesome,” says Gaponov. 

He added with a smile that his children’s favorite activity was the ice slides, which his children went down “a lot.”

Rhandi Wieve, who brought her nine-year-old son to the event, said the festival was “amazing”: “There’s always something to do for everybody and I love it, I just wish it was a little warmer this weekend.”

Cook also admires the city’s spirit to come out despite the cold weather. 

“I think that’s the best thing about this place is it’s so cold here, but no matter what happens, no matter what the weather is, everybody’s out and everybody’s smiling and we’re just happy to come every year,” said Cook. 

High on Ice 2025 is sponsored by Fort St. John Co-op, Home2 Suites by Hilton Fort St. John, MNP, Canadian Tire, Urban Systems, McElhanney Engineering, AltaGas, Brandt, Pembina Pipeline, Surerus Pipeline, Safety Boss, Tourmaline Oil, Sound in Town, Freeland Enterprises, Pioneer Sanitary Systems, Atco Trailer and Driving Force.