News

For Immediate Release:

[North Bay, ON, February 10, 2023] – This free festival kicks off tonight at 6pm at Shabogesic Beach, Lake Nipissing (formerly known as Marathon Beach) with welcoming remarks, followed by a magical, not to be missed opening performance entitled ALL MY R(el)ATIONS by the renowned Indigenous performance group Aanmitaagzi at 7pm. All My R(el)ations was made in collaboration with Aanmitaagzi’s artists and community. “All My R(el)ations explores stories of the rationing of our culture, language, traditional territory and ourselves.” – Sid Bobb, Co-Artistic Director of Aanmitaagzi. More info on All My R(el)ations can be found on Aanmitaagzi.net

The opening performance by Aanmitaagzi sets the tone for this exciting 10th anniversary celebration, which features 11 art projects made just for the icy festival. Free refreshments will be available on opening night to help warm festival-goers.

Visitors can hear from the artists themselves during the festival’s free Artist Talk series. On Saturday, February 11th from 1pm – 5pm at the Spotlight Lounge in the Capitol Centre, festival artists Quinn Hopkins, Imogen Clendinning, and Public Visualization Studio will each be speaking. On Thursday, February 16th, Cease Wyss will be giving an Artist Talk presented by Nipissing University at 11am EST via Zoom (link available on icefollies.ca).

The festival is also offering tours of the artworks and installations. Tours will take place on Wednesday, February 15th at 6pm, Saturday, February 18th at 6pm, Sunday, February 19th at 11am, Monday, February 20th at 11am (free Family Day Kid-Friendly Ice Follies Tour), and Wednesday, February 22nd at 12pm. Regular tours are $10 per person and registration can be done here or through the festival website, ice follies.ca.

Ice Follies: nbagzi mkwam (Thin Ice) is a 2 week festival that takes place on frozen Lake Nipissing, off Shabogesic Beach in North Bay. It features a wide variety of ice-based activities and events for the whole family to enjoy. We encourage you to check out the full schedule at icefollies.ca and plan your visit today.