75 Truckloads of Fun: Fire & Ice Festival Brings Winter Magic to Downtown Bracebridge
The popular Fire & Ice Festival is back in “Muskoka’s Downtown” with family fun activities and incredible entertainment.
On Saturday January 31, 2026, Bracebridge, Ontario is once again the place to be to embrace the best a Canadian winter has to offer, including indoor and outdoor adventures galore. This year it is even easier to join in the fun with festival tickets being sold on the festival app.
The highlight of the event is the town’s main street which is transformed overnight by a dedicated group of volunteers, and 75 truckloads of snow, into the now-famous tube hill run down to the centre of Bracebridge. Glide past onlookers, shops and restaurants to all the action below – an unforgettable experience (and make sure someone has a camera ready to capture the action).
Returning this year is Axed so everyone can get a taste of the lumberjack life with some axe throwing. Don’t miss out on buskers, the birds of prey show, ice sculptures with chainsaws, and the popular Great Canadian Lumberjack Shows as well, taking place throughout the day. There are plenty of spots to eat and to warm up during the festival, including a pancake breakfast, marshmallow roast, maple taffy, or drop in to Bracebridge Hall, a renovated 20th century carriage house, which will be hosting an 80s-inspired ski chalet party.
All Day Activities
The town is split into four main zones for the Fire & Ice Festival:
Memorial Park will be hosting the winter village with axe throwing, food trucks, kid’s snowshoeing, Scales nature Park at the Active Living Centre, the Great Canadian Lumberjack Show (noon, 2pm and 4pm), ice sculpting from 2 to 5pm and a beer garden.
Midtown is where the tube run is located, along with a mini tube slide, Science North and from 8.30 to 11am pancake breakfast at the Bracebridge United Church that also hosts the indoor activity centre.
Downtown features kids carnival games, a marshmallow roast, maple taffy, campfire, cupcake decorating, 80s inspired ski lodge at Bracebridge Hall, Muskoka Drag Royalty at the Griffin Gastro Pub, and the end of festival fireworks at 6pm.
Taylor Road, at the bottom of the tube run, is where the buskers and the birds of prey show will be.
Shuttle Bus Service
FREE SHUTTLE BUS SERVICE
To make it easier to enjoy the Fire and Ice festival we are now offering free shuttle service from several convenient parking lots within Bracebridge. Shuttle buses will run continuously from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm and come every half and hour.
Shuttle Bus #1
Parking Location – Stevens’ Your Independent Grocer – 270 Wellington Street
Festival Pick-Up/Drop-Off – Corner of Ontario Street & Manitoba Street
Shuttle Bus #2
Parking Location – Home Depot – 10 Depot Drive
Festival Pick-Up/Drop-Off – Corner of Hiram Street & Taylor Road
Shuttle Bus #3
Parking Location – Salvation Army – 456 Manitoba Street,
Festival Pick-Up/Drop-Off – Corner of Kimberly Ave & Manitoba Steet.
Shuttles are direct shuttles so please take note of your shuttle number when you visit the festival and ensure you use the same pick up and drop off gate.
Downtown Delights
As well as a day full of family activities, the Fire & Ice Festival gets to show off this amazing town and all its businesses. The town is known for its unique art galleries, clothing boutiques, outfitters, antique and bric-a-brac emporiums, specialty stores – with everything from kitchen supplies and housewares to toys or Funko Pops – and some great vintage and second-hand stores. Don’t forget the incredible array of bakeries, restaurants, tea shops and bars that will make you want to plan a return visit in every season!
