Thursday, March 12
Fire + Frost Artists @ Erickson Collegiate Institute
Hands-On Workshops + Artist Talks
1:15-3:00 PM
We’re kicking off Fire + Frost 2026 by bringing festival artists directly into local classrooms. Students will participate in interactive, hands-on creative activities and hear from working artists about their practice, process, and inspiration. A meaningful way to spark creativity and community connection before the public festival begins.
Workshops: What We Didn’t Eat, We Wore – Artist Talk with Edna Nabess
Edna Nabess of Oji-Cree Showcase & Market in Wasagaming and author of The Woman in the Polka Dot Dress shares her remarkable journey from growing up on a trapline in northern Manitoba to becoming an entrepreneur. Raised in a family where her father trapped and her mother tanned hides and made moccasins — using every part of what they harvested — Edna offers a rich and personal show-and-tell experience.
Students will see handcrafted items, traditional materials, and treasured pieces collected and created over the years, while hearing stories of resilience, resourcefulness, culture, and the life lessons that shaped her path.
Building with Snow, Ice & Straw – Artist Talk and Hands-On Activity with Chris Pancoe
Winnipeg-based artist and fabricator Chris Pancoe of Anvil Tree shares his journey of building with the elements, offering an inside look at designing and constructing large-scale winter structures as one of the snow artists behind the Klar Sø Winter Pavilion in Wasagaming. From frozen architecture to immersive, award-winning art suites created entirely from ice and snow at Sweden’s Icehotel, to fire-fuelled installations like a monumental flax straw sculpture built for an event and later ignited at the Selkirk waterfront, Chris explores the beauty and impermanence of sustainable materials such as ice, snow, and straw. Students will gain insight into these dynamic processes and participate in a hands-on art activity inspired by the themes of transformation, materiality, and ephemerality.
Friday, March 13: Fire + Frost Kickoff Night
Klar Sø Winter Pavillion (behind the Visitor Centre)
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Presented by Sunrise Credit Union
Kick off the weekend with glow, fire, and winter fun at the Klar Sø Winter Pavilion. Gather round for an electrifying fire dancing performance by the Starr Blazers that will light up the evening. Keep an eye out for Betty the Yeti serving up cozy winter treats to keep you warm. Music, movement, firelight, and good vibes — the perfect way to start Fire + Frost.
Lakehouse
8-11 PM
Friends + Neighbours Friday: Fire + Frost Edition
Keep the energy going after the Klar Sø Winter Pavilion with live music by The Friday Night Rebels! Grab a bite from the Fondue feature, try your luck at the Meat Draw, and sip on Brûlée Beers while catching up with friends — the perfect Friday night winter party!
Saturday, March 14: Adventure, Art & Winter Play
Visitor Centre
12-4 PM Pop Up Artisan Market, Visitor Centre
Shop local and discover handmade goods, art, textiles, treats, and unique creations from artisans. The perfect place to find something special and support creative makers.
Klar Sø Pavillion (behind the Visitor Centre)
12-4 PM Ongoing Activities Including…
S’mores and Hot Chocolate,
Generously provided by Heritage Co-op Brandon Foodstore — warm up by the fire with this sweet winter classic.
Snow Carving Demonstrations
Watch talented carvers transform blocks of snow into stunning winter sculptures.
Hula Jam with Kurrent Motion
Drop in and join the movement — playful, welcoming, and full of energy.
Spin to Win with the Nordic Inn & Big Games
Fun outdoor games for all ages.
Maple Syrup Taffy Rolling with The Barn Country Store
A sweet Canadian classic — warm maple syrup poured on snow and rolled into delicious treats.
Find Betty the Yeti
Spot Betty around town, snap a selfie, and join the fun!
Blacksmith Demonstrations with Cloverdale Forge
Experience the craft of traditional metalwork with live forging demos.
DJ Arman Spinning Tunes
Keeping the energy high and the toes warm all afternoon DJ Arman will spin lively beats throughout the pavilion, keeping everyone moving, grooving, and enjoying the winter festival vibes.
Smokey Hollow Sled Derby Decorating (in the Smoke Shack)
Design and decorate your sled before the big race!
*Featured Events*
12:00 PM
Stories with Pat Rousseau
Gather in the pavilion for engaging storytelling celebrating winter, community, and local lore.
3:00 PM
Oji-Cree Showcase & Market Fashion Show
Make your way to the pavilion for a runway experience with serious winter style. Celebrating bold Indigenous design, creativity, and culture.
3:30 PM
Smokey Hollow Sled Derby Competition
Get ready for our inaugural, family-friendly Fire + Frost Sled Derby presented by Smokey Hollow! Build it, bring it, race it. Participants are encouraged to create and decorate their own sleds, designed to race along the skating path in Riding Mountain National Park. Need a few finishing touches? Swing by the Cook Shack earlier in the day for decorating supplies generously supplied by the S.C.O.R.E Store and to dial in your design.
7-8 PM Fire Dancing with Starr Blazers + Video Projection of Aaron McKay’s Echoes and Bridges: A Call to the Land
Presented by Sunrise Credit Union
An immersive evening of fire, movement, and rhythm as the Starr Blazers ignite the night, set against a powerful video backdrop by local Indigenous artist Aaron McKay. Echoes and Bridges: A Call to the Land weaves story, landscape, and light into a striking visual experience that transforms the pavilion after dark.
Lakehouse
8-11 PM The Lakehouse Warm Up
Keep the energy going after a day of festival fun with live music by The Riding Mountain Review featuring Pat & Pat! Grab a slice of Fire Pizza, dig into the Fondue feature, and sip on Brulee Beers while catching up with friends — the perfect Saturday night winter party!
Sunday, March 15: Winter Wind Down
Klar Sø Pavillion (behind the Visitor Centre)
10:00am – 11:00am Morning Yoga
Start your Sunday with a breath of fresh air and a feel-good winter flow. Alyssa Chapman will guide you through an energizing, all-levels practice designed to wake up the body, calm the mind, and connect you to the beauty of Clear Lake in winter. Dress warm and bring a mat or blanket if you have one.
10 AM– 12 PM Snow Carving, Big Games & Betty the Yeti Fun
Keep the morning lively with playful movement and winter creativity. Snow carving demonstrations take shape in real time, challenge friends to oversized winter games, s’mores from Heritage Co-op Brandon Foodstore and keep an eye out for Betty the Yeti popping by with her signature festival mischief.
Lakehouse Café
11:00am – 12:00pm
Book Signing & Reading with Edna Nabess
Cozy up with a warm drink and enjoy live excerpts from The Woman in the Polka Dot Dress, the powerful memoir of Cree artisan and entrepreneur Edna Nabess. From growing up on a trapline in northern Manitoba to building her own business, Edna shares the remarkable journey and life lessons that shaped her path. Stay after for a book signing and the chance to connect with the author in an intimate, relaxed setting — the perfect Sunday morning pause.
Visitor Centre
10:00am – 12:00pm
NFB Curated Short Films + Cozy Crafts & Games
Warm up indoors with a handpicked lineup of classic and contemporary shorts from the National Film Board of Canada. Settle in with crafts, puzzles, and creative activities in a relaxed, family-friendly space — drop in, get cozy, and stay awhile.
Film Lineup:
The Cat Came Back – directed by Cordell Barker (1988)
Sleeping Betty – directed by Claude Cloutier (2007)
The Log Driver’s Waltz – directed by John Weldon (1979)
Gone Curling – directed by John Howe (1963)
Cactus Swing – directed by Beth Portman & Susan Crandall (1995)
The Big Snit – directed by Richard Condie (1989)
Stories from Our Land 1.5: If You Want to Get Married… You Have to Learn
How to Build an Igloo! – directed by Allen Auksaq (2011)
Old Lady’s Camping Trip – directed by Les Drew (1983)
11:00am – 12:00pm
Nature Walk with Aaron McKay
Begin at the Visitor Centre with a short showcase of local Indigenous artist Aaron McKay’s work, where he’ll share insights into his creative process. From there, the group will head out on a guided walk through the park, exploring winter light, landscapes, and hidden details along the way. After the walk, attendees will return to the Visitor Centre to wrap up and connect.
