View of the rink just outside of the Montrose Cultural Centre. Photo: Shane Clausing

By Abby Zieverink

Grande North Winter Festival

First Grande North Winter Festival set to get underway

Jan 14, 2022 | 5:00 AM

The first-ever Grande North Winter Festival kicks off this evening in the Swan City.

The festival is set for January 14-16 and will take place throughout downtown Grande Prairie. The purpose of the event is for it to be a walkable winter festival so residents can embrace the northern winters.

Activities featured throughout the weekend include live entertainment, ice carving, ice gardens, skating under the lights, ice slides, and more.

City of Grande Prairie Events and Entertainment Manager Catherine Ridgeway says the winter festival would not have been possible without the community stepping up and bringing it to light.

“The community has really come together to put together this shared experience for us, Grande Prairie Regional Tourism has been a huge partner for us, the Downtown Association, Aquatera has sponsored the ice slide down at the Montrose Cultural Centre,” she explained.

Meaningful Mementos

Remembering Someone You've Lost at Christmas

Dec 03, 2024

Seasonal Sorrow

How Do You Get Through The Holidays When You're Grieving?

Nov 01, 2024

Upcoming Events at Oliver's

Grief & Loss and Estate Planning Seminars

Oct 02, 2024

As mentioned, various events will be happening throughout the city.

Bonnetts Energy Centre:

The ice gardens with the ice bar, ice carving competition, the snow pump track, and a Grande Prairie Storm hockey game will take place at the Helen A. Rice Plaza and Bonnetts Energy Centre.

“We have the ice carvers in ice gardens at Bonnets Energy Centre. S,o that’s the ice carving competition, and guests can come and vote on their favourite carving so that will determine who wins the competition which is pretty cool,” added Ridgeway.

Read More: Preparations underway for first Grande North Winter Festival

The live carvings will take place on Friday from 3-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. On Sunday, the sculptures will then be on display from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. for residents to judge.

“The difference on Sunday, is we have a Storm game. The Storm has rescheduled their game versus Lloydminister at 2:00 p.m. so, if you have a ticket to the storm game, it will gain you access into the Ice Garden that day.”

The snow pump track will also take place throughout the weekend in the East Parking lot on January 14 from 3-9 p.m., January 15 from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m. and January 16, from 12-6 p.m.

Participants are required to bring their own helmets and Snow Boards.

Muskoseepi Park:

An Aurora skate and Live DJ at the Muskoseepi Park pond will take place January 15 from 10 a.m.- 9 p.m and January 16 from 10 a.m.- p.m.

Residents are required to bring their own skates.

Montrose Cultural Centre:

Outdoor skating along with the Aquatera Ice Slide January 14 to 16 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Residents are required to bring their own skates for ice skating.