Fire, Ice and Forest Lights – A Magical Muskoka Winter Day Trip
Winter in Ontario’s cottage country isn’t just beautiful – it’s absolutely magical. And if you’re looking for the perfect winter day trip that combines festival excitement, outdoor adventure, hot drinks, and enchanting lights, The Great Canadian Wilderness Travel Co has the ultimate itinerary for you on January 31, 2026. Pack your warmest layers and let’s explore a day that celebrates everything wonderful about a Muskoka winter.
Fire & Ice and Forest of Light – Self Guided Day Tour Package
Saturday, January 31, 2026
$30 per person including taxes and booking fee
- Downtown Bracebridge’s Fire & Ice Festival Ticket!
- A hot beverage voucher to be redeemed at one of the four local cafes in downtown Bracebridge: Baristah Coffee, Tea on the 45th, The Farm Store Muskoka
- Entrance to the Forest of Light – Muskoka’s premier illuminated forest trail
- All this for just $30 per person! — price includes taxes and booking fees.
Morning: Fire & Ice Festival in Downtown Bracebridge
Start your adventure at Bracebridge’s Fire & Ice Festival from 9am. This isn’t your average winter carnival, it’s a spectacular celebration that transforms downtown Bracebridge into a winter wonderland.
The Star Attraction: The Massive Tube Run
The absolute showstopper? A 200-foot-long downhill tubing adventure built right in the middle of downtown Bracebridge, created the night before with about 75 truckloads of snow. Picture this: you’re standing at the top of Manitoba Street, tube in hand, looking down a massive snow hill that someone had the brilliant idea to build. It’s exhilarating, it’s unique, and it’s the kind of winter fun that reminds you why Canadian winters are worth celebrating.
Festival Highlights
The festival lives up to its name with both “fire” and “ice” features:
- Fire displays: Buskers, jugglers and a firework finale that lights up the sky
- Ice sculptures: Watch talented artists create intricate ice carvings throughout the day
- Interactive activities: Bake some s’mores over an open fire, throw some axes, make fresh maple taffy, and catch the Great Canadian Lumberjack Show
Stay warm: drinks at one of Bracebridge’s cool cafes
Come in from the cold and enjoy an impressive range of hot drinks perfectly created from local baristas. With a number of stops to choose from: Baristah Coffee, Tea on the 45th, The Farm Store Muskoka. All who show their festive spirit who create featured drinks around the theme of fire and ice.
Evening Magic: Forest of Light at Sandhill Nursery
Cap off your perfect winter day with something truly special: the Forest of Light, a cerebral walk designed to touch your soul and ignite your imagination.
An Immersive Light Experience
The Forest of Light is an immersive evening experience that invites you to explore the enchanting landscape in an entirely new way. Set on the grounds of Sandhill Nursery outside Huntsville, the Forest of Light is approximately a one kilometer long trail and connects you to the natural surroundings in a truly profound way. This isn’t just a light display. It’s an artistic winter journey where nature, art, and magic intertwine. As you walk through the illuminated forest, each turn reveals new installations, colours, and moments of wonder. It’s contemplative, beautiful, and the perfect way to end a day of winter adventure.
Why This Day Trip Works
This itinerary perfectly captures what makes Muskoka special in winter. You get the community excitement of a festival, the warmth of a local cafe, and the enchantment of a forest light walk. It’s active but not exhausting, social but also contemplative, and it showcases the best of what winter in cottage country has to offer.
Each stop flows naturally into the next, the locations are all within easy driving distance of each other, and the mix of activities means there’s something for everyone, whether you’re seeking adventure, relaxation, good food, or simply the magic of a Muskoka winter.
So bundle up, gather your favorite people, and experience a winter day that you’ll remember long after the snow melts. This is what Canadian winters are all about, embracing the cold, finding the magic, and making memories that warm you from the inside out.
Want more? Turn a day trip into a memorable weekend
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