Ontario has its own winter version of Burning Man with huge sculpture set ablaze
If you're counting down the days until the return of Burning Man, you don't have to wait until summer. The city of Alton, Ontario, is hosting its own version of the iconic Nevada desert festival later this month, complete with a sculpture set ablaze.
The Fire and Ice Festival is back this year, marking 16 years with a full-scale winter celebration, featuring everything from skating on the millpond to the Big Burn finale, which attracts hundreds of attendees.
The two-day festival will also feature artisan markets, food trucks serving seasonal tastings, and a Lumberjack Lounge where visitors can take a break between events. Live ice sculpting will also happen throughout both days, with local carvers showcasing their skills using only a chisel and a massive slab of ice.
In the evening, a Hot Mic Comedy & Concert will take over, as local talent will step up to entertain the crowd in a specially curated show.
While the shopping and ice sculpting experiences are unique highlights for the city this time of year, it's the Big Burn ceremony that truly draws crowds to the Fire and Ice Festival.
So, what exactly is the Big Burn? One could say it's Ontario's very own version of Burning Man. Picture a giant sculpture set on fire at sundown — just without the strobe lights, loud music, and drugs.
Each year, local artist Paul Morin spends roughly 100 hours welding a massive sculpture, which organizers describe as "unlike anything you've seen before." The piece becomes a crowd-wide spectacle as it's set ablaze, taking up to 45 minutes to burn completely.
The two-day festival takes place on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, beginning at 10 a.m. each day. The Big Burn is scheduled for Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Hot Mic Comedy & Concert. General admission to the festival is $10, plus applicable taxes and service fees, while tickets to the comedy and concert show are priced separately at $35. Tickets can be purchased through the Alton Mill Art Centre website.
The Fire and Ice Festival will take place at the Alton Mill Art Centre, located at 1402 Queen St. W. in Alton, Ont.
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