High on Ice returns to Fort St. John this Family Day long weekend

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. – Festive fun is coming to Fort St. John this weekend, with the 20th anniversary of the annual High on Ice Winter Festival.

Running from February 14th to 16th, the High on Ice Winter Festival will feature various live performances and interactive displays, ranging from local musicians, ice-carving competitions and classes to child-friendly activities.

According to the city’s event schedule, the 20th annual High on Ice Winter Festival will open with a fire performance at the Centennial Park Stage at 6 p.m. on February 14th. 

Mayor Lilia Hansen will open the festival with a speech, a drumming performance by the Doig River Drummers and ice sculpture lighting.

Earlier in the day, ice slides will be opening in Centennial Park at 4 p.m., as well as mini golf, interactive ice games and a Lorax Storywalk complete with ice carvings inspired by the book. 

Free hot chocolate will also be available at tents in the park from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and a professional single block quick-carve competition will be open to spectators from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

In the formal gardens the interactive light exhibit Optik will be open to attendees, and at Festival Plaza popcorn, crafts and carnival games are open to the public. 

The Fort St. John Curling Club is also hosting its annual Mukluk Bonspiel starting February 14th, and organizers at the ice slides will be counting sliders for the McElhanney Slide Counter Contest. 

Organizers will be on site to count the number of times the slide is used, with the goal of beating 12,695 slides. After using the slides, attendees can visit the information tent and guess how many times the slide is used over the long weekend, with the closest guess winning a prize. 

Throughout the first evening, live music will be performed at the Festival Plaza, with Fort St. John acoustic rock musician Joseph te Bulte performing from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

At 8 p.m., Ellescriv, an “earthy folk” artist from Taylor,  will be on the stage until 9 p.m., and guitar musician Matt Stanyer will be closing the night with music from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m. During the performance pizza and craft beer will be served to all attendees of legal age from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

On the second day of the festival, February 15th, a live ice carving will take place at the Centennial Park Stage and streamed live to YouTube starting at 10 a.m.

Then at 10:30 a.m., residents can attend an ice carving class with professional ice carver Ryan Cook. The class will run twice, once on the 15th from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., and again on the 16th. Both classes are currently full, but residents can sign up for the waitlist. 

There will also be various fun events at Festival Plaza throughout the day, starting with free balloon twisting from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

There will be Eateteria food service from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and free face painting from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. All of these activities will repeat on February 16th. 

At 6 p.m. on February 15th, there will be a glow in the dark performance at the Performance Oval Amphitheater next to Festival Plaza, and live music and alcohol will be available from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

There will also be a free, interactive activity for children to play, chip and create with ice on February 15th and 16th from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the formal gardens of Centennial Park. 

Festivities start up again at 10 a.m. on February 16th, with live carving at the Centennial Park Stage. 

The closing ceremony, scheduled for 5 p.m. on February 16th, and will include free hot chocolate and chilli until 6 p.m. and the winners of the Single Block Ice Carving Competition will be announced at the stage. Mayor Hansen will return, and a fire and ice show will mark the conclusion of the festival. 

After the festival is over, a free karaoke night is scheduled for 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the plaza with food available for purchase, and fun activities will continue at Centennial Park on February 17th, including ice slides, sculptures and carvings.

For full details on the High on Ice Winter Festival’s three-day schedule, visit the City of Fort St. John’s event schedule page.