SUNDRE — Although the community is extended an invitation to stop by the Greenwood Campground to check out several ice sculptures that will be on display over the Family Day long weekend, this year’s WinterFest will largely be virtual.
“WinterFest this year is a mostly digital affair in order to conform to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines for people’s safety,” said Jonathan Allan, Sundre’s economic development officer.
The event, Allan said Feb. 3 during a phone interview, is largely being spearheaded by the Sundre & District Museum, with the municipality providing in-kind support.
“The Town of Sundre’s contribution will be the organization and coordination with an ice sculptor to bring in some ice sculptures into the Greenwood Campground and gazebo area,” he said, adding the cost of the artwork is covered by a federal grant the museum received from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
“There will be four beautiful ice sculptures of animals as well as a large throne in the centre of the gazebo for people to take pictures sitting in,” he said, adding the pieces have been commissioned to the same Rocky View County artist whose work was included for the first time during last year’s event.
The ice sculptures will also all be backlit by LED lighting to create “a gorgeous colourful effect,” he said.
“We welcome people to walk around the park and enjoy, properly physically distanced of course.”
WinterFest officially launches on Saturday, Feb. 13, with two volunteers from the museum who will be wandering about the area dressed as fur traders to greet visitors and answer questions, he said.
“Unfortunately, there will be no wagon rides, there will be no farmers’ market, no bannock tasting, no free hot chocolate — there’s going to be no major interactivity,” he said.
People who are interested in experiencing WinterFest online this year are encouraged to visit SundreWinterFest.com, which features most of the details about the event.
Additionally, there will be some video releases coordinated by the museum, including how-to survival tips and promotional clips featuring the talent of local artisans as well as other content about Sundre and the West Country area, he said.
So, the museum is seeking submissions from artists of all mediums — canvass, sculpture, textile, photographic, metal, woodwork, and so on — to share their bio photo and sample artwork with museum so they can coordinate and compile a promo video celebrating the area’s culture.
To that end, the museum is also working with HumblePie Productions to create a local marketing video that showcases the gifted creative minds in the community. That video will eventually be posted on the museum’s website, www.sundremuseum.com/sundreartistandartisandirectory, along with links to the individual artists.
Jaime Marr, the museum’s executive director, expressed gratitude for the partnership with the municipality that helped facilitate the creation of the WinterFest website, which as of last week was still being updated as details were finalized.
“Museums are still closed to the public and with the restrictions, we did not plan a formal outdoor event,” Marr wrote by email in response to questions.
That being said, residents and visitors can see the colourful, backlit ice sculptures free of charge, she added.
“We've set up filters on Snapchat and Instagram and hope people will tag the museum or town for a chance to win a free family pass to the museum.”
The museum volunteers dressed as trappers will also be carrying pioneer tools and muskets with the hope they’ll be able to showcase not only the museum but also the community’s pioneer roots, she said.
The how-to survival video series, which will be available on the WinterFest website and feature tips on for example starting a fire from scratch and using it to cook some food, was introduced as a sort of substitute for the survival competition that had to be cancelled this year, she said.
The artist and artisan directory on the museum’s website will also be free to view.
“We want to encourage people to commission, support, and buy from our local talent,” she said.
“I hope to have this available by the Family Day weekend. But truly, it will be ongoing as I hope to update it each year,” she added.
The marketing video created in coordinated with HumblePie Productions will be accessible on the WinterFest website, she pointed out.
“The Town of Sundre’s really happy to support the Sundre & District Museum in helping promote and organize through in-kind support this new digital format for WinterFest, and we really look forward to organizing a full-on, in-person WinterFest next year,” said Allan.
For now, people are welcome to check out the pieces that will be displayed at the Greenwood Campground over the Family Day long weekend or even in the weeks following, he said.
“They will be available for viewing during WinterFest and beyond depending on how the weather holds,” he said.
“It’s going to be like that for several weeks — they’ll be there until they melt.”
