Message From the Producer
The Morin Family at Deep Freeze Festival
Arts on the Ave (AOTA) is delighted to work with its partners to bring the magical Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival to Alberta Avenue for a fourth year. The Deep Freeze Winter Festival grew out
of a group of artists having coffee at the Carrot Community Arts Coffeehouse, talking about the desire to escape our houses and play together in the beauty of winter.
Our theme this year is MIDWINTER MERRIMENT IN A LAND WHERE TIME STOOD STILL. Expect the return of favorites such as Olde Tyme Curling, Tom Fool’s Ice and Snow Kingdom, ice-skating, horse and wagon rides and the outdoor Mummer’s Play.
Saturday, we bring back the Julian calendar and celebrate the Olde New Year with Byzantine food and entertainment. In the evening we Melt the Deep Freeze with hot rhythms and a Mediterranean Greek menu. Don’t forget to buy your tickets to see Le Fuzz at the Melt the Deep Freeze Dance.
Sunday, we revel in our French Canadian heritage with music, cuisine and dance. Experience tourtière (meat pie) and tarte au sucre (sugar pie), tap your spoons to Allez Ouest and visit the delicieux Cabane à Sucre for la tire (iced maple syrup on a stick). Make sure to stop by the street hockey rinks to catch members of our Edmonton Oil Kings.
The cold weather doesn’t stop us so join in as we celebrate wonderful winter traditions such as street hockey, curling, tobogganing and ice sculpture. This year, we extend a warm handshake across the ocean as Edmonton’s twin city Harbin, China shares 4 talented ice sculptors to participate in our midwinter merriment. These artists will be working on their ice masterpieces Sunday noon until 5 pm. Come by and watch these masters at work.
Celebrating the cultures, foods, music, sights, and smells of the past and blending them with the new cultures in our community is the essence of the Deep Freeze: A Winter Byzantine Festival! We can’t wait to celebrate winter with you as the ice and snow comes alive on 118th Avenue!
CHRISTY MORIN, Festival Producer