UPDATE
The Town of Ponoka is actively monitoring the sculptures and will be temporarily placing tarps over them as a preventative measure to protect them from the sun during unseasonably warm periods of the day, typically when the sun is out. This is a proactive measure that is taken as needed to ensure the longevity of the sculptures throughout the winter months.
ORIGINAL STORY
Although the Town of Ponoka’s new family-friendly winter attraction didn’t officially open until Jan. 10, residents were already enjoying the ice sculptures at the downtown plaza on Monday afternoon, Jan. 9.
The plaza, located at 5102 48 Ave., has transformed into an ice sculpture village, where citizens and visitors to Ponoka can “take a stroll and enjoy the beauty and magic of the many ice sculptures that will be on display,” stated the town in a release.
“The Ice Sculpture Village offers an exciting new attraction in the heart of our community for everyone to enjoy throughout the winter months,” said chief administrative officer Sandra Lund in the release. “We invite Ponoka citizens and visitors to come and enjoy the sculptures and take lots of photos as you stroll through.”
The exhibit features carved ice sculptures of an elk, bison, fish, goose, a horse and sleigh and a life-sized ice throne, as well as a frame for posing for photos.
The Ice Sculpture Village will be open daily and is free to attend. Solar lights and the downtown Christmas tree will light up the ice sculptures and the pathways around them in the evenings.
Visitors to the Ice Sculpture Village are asked to please stay on the pathways and do not climb on the ice sculptures, with the exception of the following interactive sculptures:
• The horse-drawn carriage – Visitors can carefully climb into the sleigh and sit on the ice-carved bench seat to take photos; and
• The ice throne – You are welcome to carefully step up and sit on the throne to fully enjoy the majesty of this life-sized sculpture.
“By respecting the space, the ice sculptures can be enjoyed by everyone throughout the winter season and could become an annual event in the Town of Ponoka,” said Lund.
The town asks that people not enter the Ice Sculpture Village until it opens to the public on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 10, to allow crews to safely install all of the sculptures.
To learn more about outdoor winter recreation opportunities in Ponoka, please visit https://www.ponoka.ca/p/outdoor-winter-recreation.