Southern Ontario Ice Climb Festival 2019

Back for its fifth consecutive year, the Southern Ontario Ice Climbing Festival is coming to Maynooth, Ontario, February 8th to 10th, 2019.

The SOIce Fest draws climbers from across Canada and the northern US to enjoy some of the best ice climbing Ontario has to offer. With attendee numbers on the rise year after year, this festival has already become a fan favourite, and it’s easy to see why.

“The SOIce Fest is a real draw for both experienced ice climbers and for those who have never tried it before,” explains Andriy Kolos, festival co-founder.

Ice, ice, baby! We’re back, baby – and we’re coming for you! Mark your calendar, tell your friends, book your vacation, or heck, just quit your job, and come climb with us February 8 – 10, 2019! • We’ve got beginner clinics, we’ve got advanced clinics, we’ve got prizes, and we’ve got small town charm. This ice climbing festival’s got it all—and we hope it’s got you, too. • Registration will open in a couple cool weeks, so stay tuned to this and every SOIce channel for all the latest. In the meantime, just sit back, relax, and enjoy this year’s festival poster. (And for the record, we don’t actually want you to quit your job — that’s why we book this cool fest over the weekend ?)

A post shared by Southern Ontario Ice Festival (@soicefest) on Dec 7, 2018 at 7:52am PST

“We’re able to build on every past year’s success and bring an increasing number of ice climbing guides to the festival, so that we can continue to provide high quality instruction to an ever-growing number of people who want to get into the sport, and offer technical clinics for those who are already experienced climbers.”

The partnerships that this festival have cultivated span the climbing sector and the country. With support from key players in the climbing industry, Arc’teryx and MEC, as well as the climbing guiding industry, the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and Yamnuska Mountain Adventures, the SOIce Fest continues to be supported by the top names in ice climbing.

“We’re so glad to see so many partners returning year after year to support this great festival,” expresses Randy Kielbasiewicz, Ontario Alliance of Climbers co-chair.

“The town of Maynooth and other local communities in the greater Bancroft area are also important partners in making this festival a success year after year, and we want to express our continued gratitude for their involvement with SOIce Fest.”

While the climbing takes place at Diamond Lake, south of Combermere, Saturday and Sunday, the social hub for the festival is located in the town of Maynooth.

Clinics will be offered throughout both Saturday and Sunday, but many festival goers choose to climb independently while still enjoying the basecamp festivities at the lake. Clinic registration is set to open mid- December, and with rapidly growing interest in ice climbing and the festival, clinic spaces are expected to fill up quickly.

Visit here for more information and to find the latest updates on clinics and festival registration.