Fire & Ice Festival

Each January, downtown Bracebridge transforms through one audacious act: volunteers dump 50-75 truckloads of snow overnight onto Manitoba Street, creating a 200-foot tube run straight down the main commercial thoroughfare. The Fire & Ice Festival, January 31, 2026, 9 AM-6 PM, blends this gravity-powered thrill with fire performances, ice sculptures, and small-town carnival charm.

Located at the heart of Muskoka, Bracebridge bills itself as “The Heart of Muskoka”, the festival sprawls across multiple zones from Memorial Park through downtown to Taylor Road. Tickets cost $10 for ages 6+, $8 early bird via the Downtown Bracebridge app until January 23, with children 5 and under free. Day-of purchases are cash only.

Ice sculptor “Ice Boy” and his team create masterpieces including an Ice Throne and Ice Picture Frame for photo opportunities, with live carving demonstrations at 11 AM and 2 PM. The Fire Guy delivers fire performances at noon and 2 PM, while the Great Canadian Lumberjack Show runs three times daily. The Biergarten at Bracebridge Hall keeps adults warm, while kids tackle an inflatable maze, mini-putt, try-it curling, and the signature tube run, line closes at 5 PM, arrive early. Fireworks at 6 PM over the Silver Bridge provide the grand finale.

Bracebridge sits where the Muskoka River courses through downtown, with the dramatic 33-metre Bracebridge Falls visible from the Silver Bridge. Lake Muskoka, the largest of the “Big Three” at 1,210 hectares, lies approximately 10 kilometres downstream. Wilson’s Falls offers a beautiful frozen winter hike north of downtown, while ice fishing opportunities abound on Lake Muskoka and surrounding smaller lakes.

Parking fills quickly; use free shuttle service, 8:30 AM-7 PM, from Stevens’ Your Independent Grocer, 270 Wellington Street, Home Depot, 10 Depot Drive, or Salvation Army South Muskoka Ministries, 456 Manitoba Street. Plan 3-4 hours minimum to experience highlights; avoid peak crowds between 11 AM-2 PM.

For dining, The Old Station Restaurant, 88 Manitoba Street, established 1985, sits directly on the festival route, their patio serves as the official Fire & Ice viewing spot at the tube run summit. The converted service station features slow-roasted prime rib and a welcoming fireplace beneath an iconic maple tree centerpiece. For something unexpected, El Pueblito, 155 Manitoba Street, Mexican concept since 2016, serves authentic Muskoka burritos and massive margaritas from recipes owners Marlenne and Mike Rickard learned during family trips to Mexico.

Stay within walking distance at the Inn at the Falls, an 1870s estate overlooking Bracebridge Bay, or at the brand-new Tru by Hilton Bracebridge, opened December 2024, featuring a Fire & Ice tube run mural in the lobby.