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Ice carvers had ‘ideal’ conditions for Dartmouth ice festival

Ice sculptures, music and circus displayed in downtown Dartmouth

By Barley Burns
3 min read
Big letters read “ICE FEST 2026”, with logo ice blocks covered, along the pier at Alderney Landing.
caption Ice Festival 2026 took place at Alderney Landing and along Portland Street in Dartmouth from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1. Carvers from the Atlantic region and Nunavut showcased ice sculptures that included beavers, gnomes and a kraken.
Barley Burns
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Ice carvers from across the Atlantic region and even Nunavut came to downtown Dartmouth Jan.30 to Feb. 1 for the annual Ice Festival. The festival has been running since 2022. Festival goers took in ice sculptures at Alderney Landing and all along Portland St. Other events included performances by local musicians and circus artists, including Ria Mae and Breaking Circus. The Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission puts on the festival to encourage folks to get outside, shop,and enjoy in the winter season. Reporting by Barley Burns.

♬ original sound – The Signal – The Signal

Ice carvers from across the Atlantic region and even Nunavut came to downtown Dartmouth Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 for the annual Ice Festival. The festival has been running since 2022.

Festival goers took in ice sculptures at Alderney Landing and all along Portland Street. Other events included performances by local musicians and circus artists, including Ria Mae and Breaking Circus.

The Downtown Dartmouth Business Commission puts on the festival to encourage folks to get outside, shop, and enjoy in the winter season.

An ice sculpture featuring a horse head and two pedestals is displayed outside of the Alderney Ferry Terminal. Ice carver Joel Palmer is pictured in colourful snowpants, a brown hoodie and a yellow beanie, holding a heat blower.
caption Joel Palmer from Swamp Bear Art in Brown’s Flat, New Brunswick, poses with an iron horse ice carving he created for the 2026 Ice Festival in Dartmouth.
Barley Burns
Eight white tents are set up at Alderney Landing to protect ice sculptures.
caption Festival organizers and carvers set up for the Ice Festival at Alderney Landing on Jan. 30.
Barley Burns
Carver Gordon Sparks (New Brunswick) carves an ice sculpture at Ferry Terminal Park, Jan 30.
caption Carver Gordon Sparks, of Rough Waters, N.B., carves an ice sculpture at Ferry Terminal Park.
Barley Burns
A man in orange uses a chainsaw to carve a dragon out of ice.
caption An ice carver carves a dragon for the Ice Festival.
Barley Burns
Ice carver carving ice.
caption An ice carver carves an ice sculpture at Alderney Landing.
Barley Burns
A sketch book shows the design for the ice sculpture pictured in the background by Joel Palmer (Swamp Bear Art)
caption A sketchbook shows the iron horse ice sculpture design by Joel Palmer of Swamp Bear Art.
Barley Burns
Two ice carvers prep their ice blocks.
caption Ice carvers Mat Nuqingaq, of Iqaluit, and Claude Roussel, of Prospect, N.S., prepare ice blocks for carving.
Barley Burns

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Barley Burns

Barley Burns is a one-year Bachelor of Journalism student at King's College.

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