It's a safe assumption that most Torontonians are fed up with the ice and snow that has covered city streets for the past few months. But the frosty ice that descended on the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood this weekend received a warm reception. The opportunity to have a picture taken inside a giant clam—part of an "Underwater Kingdom" sculpted from 25,000 pounds of ice—proved to be a big draw at the third annual Bloor-Yorkville Ice Fest on Saturday. A sea of people flocked to Cumberland Avenue to watch 12 artists compete in the eighth annual Sassafraz ice-carving competition, held throughout the afternoon in the Village of Yorkville Park.
The ice began arriving in Yorkville on Friday, reported Bloor-Yorkville marketing manager Rick Kaczmarek, who started planning the event in October. "I do it all by myself. I do all our special events," he said. "It's challenging, but it's a really fun festival to work on." Kaczmarek began organizing the event well ahead of time because, he said, it takes several months to get all of the sponsors on board. "Every ice sculpture is sponsored by a business."
Iceculture created 41 ice sculptures, which organizers placed in various spots around the neighbourhood. A "Dinos Are Back" sculpture outside the Royal Ontario Museum paid tribute to the dinosaur exhibit on display inside. Other sculptures included a vintage lamp at the entrance to Renaissance Court, a custom ice bar—complete with Holt Renfrew's signature pink branding—outside the retailer's Bloor Street location, and a piano made of ice on the patio at Sassafraz.Five actors, dressed in fashions from the Bay, waved to passersby from inside the Ontario Tourism Snow Globe, which was on display outside the Hudson's Bay Centre on Bloor Street. Other attractions included Santé Chill in the atrium of the Manulife Centre, where Steve Thurlow, wine selector and education director for the annual Santé: Toronto International Wine Festival (taking place April 28 to May 10), served Jacob's Creek wines. Hors d'oeuvres, courtesy of Eatertainment Special Events & Catering, included Salt Spring Island goat cheese with a roasted fig on crostini with avocado and cherry tomato.
Kaczmarek reported that IceFest has attracted between 3,000 to 5,000 people in past years. However, with increased media exposure, he predicted a spike in attendance this year. The Bloor-Yorkville B.I.A. partnered with several media outlets to promote the event, including 97.3 FM EZ Rock, CTV, NOW, Toronto Community News, and Toronto.com. More than 10,000 people attended the festival this year.
The Bloor-Yorkville Ice Fest
Photo: BizBash
Actors inside the Ontario Tourism Snow Globe—dressed in the Bay's traditional striped garb—waved to passersby on Bloor Street.
Photo: BizBash
For a donation of $5 to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, attendees could have their photo taken while posing in a giant clam shell, part of an Underwater Kingdom display that also included a pirate ship, treasure chests, and a mermaid.
Photo: BizBash
An artist competing in the eighth annual Sassafraz ice-carving competition used a chainsaw to create a scuplture sponsored by In Beauty Spa.
Photo: BizBash
The Underwater Kingdom exhibit included a series of seahorses carved in ice.
Photo: BizBash
The "Dinos Are Back" ice sculpture outside the Royal Ontario Museum paid tribute to the ongoing dinosaur exhibit inside.
Photo: BizBash
Servers handed out hot chocolate at an ice bar outside Holt Renfrew's flagship store on Bloor Street.
Photo: BizBash
An ice bar on the patio at Sassafraz offered Wyborowa Exquisite Vodka martinis.
Photo: BizBash
Cumberland Avenue attracted a crowd of onlookers who watched the ice-carving competition in the Village of Yorkville Park.
Photo: BizBash
Steve Thurlow served Jacob's Creek wines at the Santé Chill display inside the atrium of the Manulife Centre.
Photo: BizBash
Guests at Santé Chill were offered Salt Spring Island goat cheese with a roasted fig on crostini with avocado and cherry tomato.
Photo: BizBash
