Originally crafted by Peter Field for the First Night Festival in the late 1990s, this captivating art installation has a storied history! Following the closure of First Night, these vibrant panels were rediscovered by co-creator Randall Fraser, and began making appearances across Alberta, finally finding a permanent home at the Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival. Today, the Lantern Tower stands as a symbol of resilience and celebration, bringing warmth and colour to Edmonton’s winter landscape.
Randall Fraser is a theatre designer, costume creator, puppeteer, fire performer, actor, director, festival producer, and the Artistic Director of the National Stiltwalkers of Canada.
Arts on the Ave Edmonton Society is a Canadian non-profit organization; a humanitarian artistic movement that believes in the power of the arts to transform communities and lives. Deep Freeze: A Byzantine Winter Festival, our Edmonton’s first festival of the year, will run from January 18–19, 2025, and celebrates the Olde New Year. The festival takes place along Alberta Avenue (118 Avenue, from 90 Street to 95 Street) and features ice sculptures, ice slides, horse and wagon rides, Pipon Village, street hockey, sugar shacks, lanterns, and much more. Ukrainian, Métis, Indigenous, Inuit, Franco African, Francophone, Latin American and Asian cultures are featured with cultural foods and dance. Don’t miss the spectacular fireworks show at 9pm on Saturday evening!