Many call the Silver Skate Festival the ultimate winter celebration, and it’s easy to see why. This annual 10-day extravaganza transforms Edmonton’s Hawrelak Park and Laurier Park into a winter wonderland for the whole family. Each year, visitors are immersed in a true fairytale, where they can lace up their skates, hone their hockey skills, and even compete in various events, as reported by edmontonski.com.
The Festival’s Story
The Silver Skate Festival was founded way back in 1991, originally held on Family Day weekend. In 2007, Erin Loreto took the helm as the festival’s director. Alongside her team, she bolstered the infrastructure and expanded the event, turning it into the 10-day winter fairytale it is today. While the festival initially took place in Laurier Park, Hawrelak Park in Edmonton’s river valley soon became its main hub.
Skating, Ice Castles, and So Much More
When you visit the Silver Skate Festival, you’re stepping into a captivating winter wonderland filled with thrilling activities, breathtaking fire and ice sculptures, and enchanting horse-drawn sleigh rides.
As mentioned, all festival activities unfold in Hawrelak Park, nestled in Edmonton’s renowned river valley. Since the Silver Skate Festival draws inspiration from the Dutch folk tale “Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates,” visitors can experience authentic Dutch winter traditions. One of the highlights is the ice racing, considered the festival’s premier event.
While the Silver Skate Festival’s program changes yearly, skating always remains a core attraction. So, grab your skates and hit the ice at Edmonton’s largest outdoor rink! You can also learn new figure skating moves or enjoy a friendly game of hockey with some worthy opponents. Throughout the event, you’ll find curling competitions and even speed skating races.
The Heritage Village invites visitors to delve into the traditional history of Canada’s pioneers. Baking bannock, a traditional Indigenous bread, over an open fire, snowshoeing, and riding fat bikes promise a load of positive emotions for everyone. There’s even a market held in a heated tent, where you can browse handmade crafts, clothing, baked goods, and alcoholic beverages.
The ice castle deserves a special mention. As you stroll along the Folk Trail, festival-goers can admire incredible fire sculptures and enjoy live music. Each year, top artists from around the globe bring their saws, chisels, and pitchforks to participate in the international sculptors’ symposium. They create magnificent works of art from combustible materials, which are then set alight every evening.
Enchanting Tales and Dazzling Light Shows
Every year, the Silver Skate Festival invites playwrights to create allegorical stories and fairytales, often carrying social or environmental messages. These are then brought to life by actors along the Folk Trail, where local art installations further animate the narratives.
The trail begins at a lantern-making tent, where attendees craft their own lanterns to light their journey as they listen to the stories. History also comes alive in the Heritage Village, a circular space where knowledge keepers share their wisdom. It’s important to note that Indigenous families experienced the seasonal cold differently. Winter shelters were used seasonally and served as gathering places where people warmed themselves by the fire. Cold days and nights became the perfect time to share stories and exchange experiences from hunting, fishing, and snowshoeing adventures. These stories were told not only for entertainment but also to impart collective knowledge about life and learning to the younger generation, emphasizing the importance of ceremonies and blessings. Thanks to funding from the EPCOR Heart + Soul Fund, the Silver Skate Festival was able to hire a sound engineer and record the stories of three elders, which are shared annually at the site.
Fire and Snow Sculptures
Since 2009, the Silver Skate Festival has showcased an installation of fire sculptures. This unique light show serves as a grand finale to the stories. The artists who create these masterpieces meticulously plan every detail, reflecting various beliefs in their work. It’s thought that burning the sculptures allows people to release negative thoughts, fears, and regrets that might diminish love in their hearts. Each person attending can write down what troubles them on a piece of paper and bring it to the lantern-making tent. The collected papers are then placed inside the fire sculpture and burned.
The snow sculptures are another festival highlight that consistently remain audience favourites. Annually, a team of 2-3 artists expertly transforms large snow drifts into true works of art, forming sculptures that the public can admire throughout the festival. The snow sculpture garden in Laurier Park remains open until spring arrives.
The Silver Skate Festival is adored by children of all ages! Here, they can build snow houses, slide down hills in the family fun zone, learn snowshoeing skills, and go ice skating. For over 30 years, the Silver Skate Festival has offered Edmontonians a wonderful opportunity to fully embrace winter. To ensure its continued existence, everyone’s help is needed. Consider making a small donation to contribute to the festival’s ongoing development.