Fire and Ice 2023

Find up to date info on Fire and Ice 2024 here!

Fire and Ice is back - mark your calendars!

The Fire & Ice Winter Festival will take place Saturday, January 28th and Sunday, January 29th, 2023, and it’s going to be better than ever. 

Planned and hosted on Alton Mill’s private property, this two-day event unites the community with a roster of outdoor and indoor activities that support local vendors, businesses, and artists during the coldest month of the year. 

Key activities planned for 2023 include outdoor pond hockey, ice skating, children's activities including “the super snow slide”, ice carving demonstrations, a Hot Stove Lounge featuring Hot Mics Comedy show, the Stoney Lonesome Bluegrass band, Hot food & drink, and a spectacular fire sculpture crafted by celebrated local artist Paul Morin.

If you’d like to become a volunteer, please email us at info@altonmill.ca to learn more.

Enter our F&I photo competition! Entry form and details available at this link. 

• 1st Place: a small original cloudscape on canvas by Paul Morin, value $150
• 2nd Place: large gift basket
• 3rd Place: small gift basket

Admission:
Saturday Daytime & Fire Sculpture and Sunday, PWYC admission at the gate, suggested donation amount:
$5 children, $10 Adults, $25 Families or whatever you can afford would be appreciated to sustain the event.

Saturday Evening Hot Stove Lounge ticketed event: sorry sold out!
Get on the waiting list for last minute Hot Stove tickets:  Fire & Ice Hot Stove 2023

Schedule of Outdoor Activities - Saturday January 28th 2023:

• 12 Noon Annex Courtyard Opening Ceremonies - Opening remarks by Sylvia Jones, MPP https://sylviajonesmpp.ca/
• 12 Noon-8pm. Mill Pond - Alton Mill Pond Skating. Enjoy the great white outdoors skating with your friends or family
• 10am-8pm Mill Pond Terrace - Bonfire. Keep warm, share a story and a laugh beside the pond. 
• 10am-6pm The Forge in the Livery - Blacksmith Jason Duclos will be in his forge creating one-of-a-king fire crafted pieces for your viewing pleasure or purchase 
• 10am-6pm West of the Annex Courtyard - Kid's Super Snow Slide. Snow Slide. Spin & glide all the way down the hill. Gentle, perfect for small kids!
• 10am-6pm Above The Forge in the Livery Lynx and Hare Cycle Shop. Fat bike demos and BMX mini course.
• 10am-4pm Next to Creek - Build a snölykta. Work as a community to create a glowing Swedish snow lantern … or two.
• 10am-6pm Annex Courtyard - Ice Sculptures Watch the magic unfold as carvers transform blocks of ice into art.
• 11am-7pm Parking Lot - Millers Meats Food Tuck. 
• 10am-4pm  Annex Courtyard - SPINIKO Lifesize games fun for the whole family
• 10am-6pm West of the Annex Courtyard - Interactive photo display. Pop into a painting and share your creation with the world!
• 10am-6pm Throughout the Grounds - Photo & Video Contest. Capture and submit you quintessential winter festival perspective, use the QR code below to enter your submissions and for your chance to win prizes. 
• 6pm (dusk) Upper Parking Lot - Fire Sculpture! Artist Paul Morin lights up the night with a spectacular creation and evocative music.

Schedule of Indoor Activities - Saturday January 28th 2023:

• 10am-5pm  Open Studios: Many of our resident artists will be doing demonstrations of their media in their open studios. We are always happy to share artistic passion with our visitors.
• 1pm-3pm  Cafe Area. Live acoustic guitar - Vito Loschiavo
• 10am-5pm  Pond Gallery Vendor Market -Shop for creative artisanal product and gifts from our guest vendors.
• 10am - 5 pm  Falls Gallery - More shopping for creative artisanal product and gifts from our guest vendors.
• 1pm-3pm  Headwaters Arts Gallery - Meet Headwater's Arts member and painter Deb Menkin as she demonstrates her acrylic painting techniques.
• 11am-4pm Studio 201 A Beehive of Activity -Karen Brown from The Hive Encaustic is offering a candle making workshop where you can create your own unique and truly beautiful teacup candle! Materials provided or bring your own teacup. $30 per cup, $20 per demi-cup, $20 in your own cup.
• 10:30am-Noon & 1:30pm-3pm Studio 216 - Tattoo You! Toltec Spirit Tattoo will be providing a paint station for animal “tattoos” on arms (not faces) for the festival.
• 11pm-6pm Studio 206 - Mini Tarot card readings with CJ Shelton $25. Walk-ins accepted or book in advance: artist@dancingmoondesigns.ca
• 1pm-4pm Studio 209 - Pick Up a Paintbrush Yourself!
  Abstract Artist Lydia Panart will be running a communal painting project and you can choose to participate. Throughout the day, visitors to Lydia's studio may enter a draw to win one of her gorgeous silk art scarves.
• 12pm-3pm  Studio 101 Rare Threads - Meet a variety of Rare Threads' artisans who will be onsite to talk about their craft. Carol from Seeing Squared will be offering demos on upcycling clothing by adding weaving.
• 10am-5pm  Studio 202 - Artist for conservation. 10% of artist Lynden Cowans' print sales for the weekend go to the Alton Millpond Rehabilitation project. She will also be offering poster prints of one of her lovely paintings at a special rate with 100% of the funds going to the Alton Millpond Rehabilitation project.
• 7pm-11pm  Millrace Room - Hot Stove Lounge. Enjoy Hot Mic Comedy, Stoney Lonesome Bluegrass band, hot chili, cash bar, prizes and more. Tickets $30. Fire & Ice 2023

Schedule of Activities for Sunday January 29th, 2023:

• 10am-5pm. Mill Pond - Alton Mill Pond Skating. Enjoy the great white outdoors skating with your friends or family
• 10am-5pm Mill Pond Terrace - Bonfire. Keep warm, share a story and a laugh beside the pond. 
• 10am-5pm The Forge in the Livery - Blacksmith Jason Duclos will be in his forge creating one-of-a-king fire crafted pieces for your viewing pleasure or purchase 
• 10am-5pm West of the Annex Courtyard - Kid's Super Snow Slide. Snow Slide. Spin & glide all the way down the hill. Gentle, perfect for small kids!
• 10am-5pm  Open Studios: Many of our resident artists will be doing demonstrations of their media in their open studios. We are always happy to share artistic passion with our visitors.
• 10am-5pm  Pond Gallery Vendor Market -Shop for creative artisanal product and gifts from our guest vendors.
• 10am - 5 pm  Falls Gallery - More shopping for creative artisanal product and gifts from our guest vendors.
• 10:30am-Noon & 1:30pm-3pm Studio 216 - Tattoo You! Toltec Spirit Tattoo will be providing a paint station for animal “tattoos” on arms (not faces) for the festival.
• 10am-5pm Above The Forge in the Livery Lynx and Hare Cycle Shop. Fat bike demos and BMX mini course.
• 10am-4pm Next to Creek - Build a snölykta. Work as a community to create a glowing Swedish snow lantern … or two.
• 10am-5pm Annex Courtyard - Ice Sculptures Watch the magic unfold as carvers transform blocks of ice into art.
• 10am-5pm West of the Annex Courtyard - Interactive photo display. Pop into a painting and share your creation with the world!
• 10am-5pm Throughout the Grounds - Photo & Video Contest. Capture and submit you quintessential winter festival perspective, use the QR code below to enter your submissions and for your chance to win prizes. 
• 11am-4pm Studio 201 A Beehive of Activity -Karen Brown from The Hive Encaustic is offering a candle making workshop where you can create your own unique and truly beautiful teacup candle! Materials provided or bring your own teacup. $30 per cup, $20 per demi-cup, $20 in your own cup.
• 10am-5pm Studio 216 - Tattoo Art history display by our new tenant Toltec Spirit Tattoo
• 10am-5pm  Studio 202 - Artist for conservation. 10% of artist Lynden Cowans' print sales for the weekend go to the Alton Millpond Rehabilitation project. She will also be offering poster prints of one of her lovely paintings at a special rate with 100% of the funds going to the Alton Millpond Rehabilitation project.
• 1pm-5pm Studio 206 - Mini Tarot card readings with CJ Shelton $25. Walk-ins accepted or book in advance: artist@dancingmoondesigns.ca
• All day - Upper Parking Lot - Paul Morin spectacular fire sculpture will be on display from the night before

A huge thank you to our many volunteers and sponsors without whom this event would not be possible: