New Edmonton ice castle an icicled dreamscape
This year’s version is smaller, featuring numerous archways and caverns
Towering spires of ice loom large over Hawrelak Park as Edmonton’s ice castle is ready to open to the public.
“If you can imagine a frozen waterfall that kind of blew up everywhere, that’s the best way to describe it,” Christian Denis, lead artist and site manager, said at a preview of the structure Thursday.
A crew of around 20 people has worked since October to create the ice castle, first laying a series of pipes, sprinklers and ice before creating columns of ice that are connected together to create the structure’s base.
The sprinklers connect these columns by creating trickles of water that form stunning icicles that drape from the larger structure.
“Mother Nature really blows us away every time, creating these magnificent formations that are unique every single time,” Denis said.
This year’s version by Utahbased Ice Castles, the third built in Edmonton, is smaller and more intimate, featuring numerous archways and caverns to explore.
Water bubbles from a large central fountain while two ice slides wrap around towers of ice.
“We’ve completely enclosed them, so it’s kind of like a tunnel,” said Denis.
This winter season’s variable weather patterns brought challenges and opportunity in equal measure, Denis said.
“It was a constant freeze-thaw, so oftentimes our employees would work all day putting up these delicate little icicles and then a lot of them would melt away. A lot of work would disappear,” Denis said.
“In the end, it worked out to our benefit because we ended up getting some really cool formations out of it.”
The ice castle officially opens to the public Friday and will stay open until March, as long as the weather permits.
Tickets are available online in advance or on-site; however, Denis warns those who try to purchase tickets at the gate may get left out in the cold.
Some of the proceeds from ice castle admission supports Edmonton’s Silver Skate Festival, running in Hawrelak Park Feb. 9 to 19.
“We are a blend of arts, culture, recreation and sport,” said Erin Diloreto, executive producer of the Silver Skate Festival.
“We are Edmonton’s oldest, largest and longest running winter festival.”
More information about the Silver Skate Festival including volunteer opportunities can be found on its website.