January 04, 2010 | Tips from Travellers >
Nimpo Lake, Festivals & Events
View a larger image on flickr.com
We had the pleasure of attending the New Year's Ice Party at Nimpo Lake this year and it was unbelievable! Apparently the last one was held 10 years ago during the Millennium year and it was intended to be an event every 10 years. However, organizers tell me it was so much fun, this just may become an annual event. People arrived in vehicles, on snowmobiles, ATV's or simply walked to the party spot.
Starting just after dark, the party was held on the ice of Nimpo Lake. A huge area was cleared on the ice, and numerous Christmas trees were subsequently plopped into the resulting snow banks surrounding the party area. The trees were decorated with Christmas lights that lit up the huge area. There were Swiss candles (six foot tall logs that burned like torches) ice candles (ice mold lit from within by a candle) and even tiki torches added their light to the four bonfires kept roaring by party goers.
Barbecues kept chili and hot dogs hot, while a turkey roaster did double duty as hot chocolate heater and a great punch slowly froze next to the ice bar. The ice bar. Now that was something to behold! The base was built of huge blocks of ice taken from the lake the day before and it was finished off with long slabs of ice about four inches thick, then coins were set into the ice. Lit from behind by red and green floodlights, it stood like an ethereal sculpture in the middle of the dance floor.
Oh yeah, there was music, along with other activities. A skating rink provided fun for the kids, while adults tried their hand at curling. But this was like no curling you've ever seen before! The rocks were made of blocks cut from a large Aspen tree that were smoothed and then a bent spike was hammered into the top and provided a handle, while the bottom of the 'rocks' had water poured over them so that they were smooth and sailed along the curling rink at a pretty good rate.
A grand show of fireworks was put on at 8:00, at 9:30, and a spectacular show again at midnight. This was a great way to welcome in the New Year and if the organizers do decide to do this next year, by all means, attend. I spoke to a lot of out of towners that came in just for this party and they all had a blast! Seeing the amazing Coastal Mountains in the moonlight beyond the gay Christmas lights was a sight to behold and you couldn't ask for a greater way to ring in 2010.