Jammin’ for Johnny
Annual Ice Jam organized in support of Johnny Miles Festival
Plans are well underway for the highly anticipated Ice Jam music event later this month.
The 18th annual fundraiser in support of the Johnny Miles Festival will take place on Feb. 18 from 5 p.m.-12 a.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion branch 8 on Main Street in Sydney Mines.
The event will feature seven local bands including Bob MacDonald, Bob Finny accompanied by Frank and Tim, Back In Time, Family Tree Band, BandIt, Instant Rush and Brandon Collier.
Along with the live entertainment, the event will also include a silent auction with items donated by local businesses, as well as door prizes and even split draws. Kitchen and bar services will be available.
“Ice Jam is a good event to have because it’s kind of in the middle of winter and it’s a break and that’s how it started,” said Eugene Ramsey, chair of the Johnny Miles Festival.
“Chris Evans created Ice Jam — he use to be our co-ordinator — that’s why it was so big the first time we did it. All the big names of the island were playing
at Ice Jam, it was really a wonderful event to have.”
The Johnny Miles Festival, which takes place each year in August, pays tribute to the famous runner and former Sydney Mines resident.
Miles won the hearts of many Canadians, winning the Boston Marathon in 1926, the first of two titles he claimed at the U.S. race. He also represented Canada twice at the Olympics before retiring to work with International Harvesters.
Although the society receives three-quarters of its funding for the festival each year from the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, the Ice Jam is the committee’s biggest fundraiser.
“This is our main fundraiser for the festival — we did other events including a haunted house at one time, but we had to let that go because we didn’t have any volunteers,” said Ramsey. “To run a festival like we do takes a lot of money. We get help from CBRM, but we need thousands of dollars to start the festival before hand because the money doesn’t usually come until we’re about ready to start.”
Ramsey wouldn’t confirm the entire cost of the festival, however he noted the biggest expense is the annual fireworks display. As for the Ice Jam, Ramsey, a member of the Family Tree Band, said all bands participating are volunteering their time and talent to help the cause.
“Without the bands volunteering their time we wouldn’t be able to have the Ice Jam as a fundraiser — to get a band now days, $1,000 is the bottom line,” he said. “We pick the bands that we want to have involved because we look at last year’s lineup and we try to make it different each year.”
The event, held on the third Sunday in February, will include a variety of music and has been well supported by the Northside community.
“They’ve been excellent to support us over the years,” said Ramsey. “All you have to do is mention the name Johnny Miles and they put a smile on their face because everyone in Sydney Mines and on the Northside loves Johnny Miles.
“We usually have between 350-400 people in attendance for the event, but we hope to get a little more each year.”
Ramsey said the event isn’t only for seniors, noting the younger crowd attends the event later in the evening.
“I think the Ice Jam offers something for everybody of age to come and enjoy,” he said. “People go there to socialize and I think the majority of people that do go there, they enjoy themselves and they come back year after year.”
Tickets for the Ice Jam, a 19 years and over event, are $5 each and will be available at the door. Advance tickets are also on sale from members of the committee.