SLIP, SLIDIN’ AWAY AT FIRE & ICE FESTIVAL A LOAD OF FUN — BUT NOT FOR FAINT HEART
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
BRACEBRIDGE — Last weekend’s Fire & Ice Festival was more about ice than fire, but it didn’t deter thousands who flocked onto Manitoba Street for lots of fun if not sun.
Saturday was more about slipin’ and slidin’.
Or more prec-ice-ly You-Tubing as hundreds of them lined up down Taylor Road at the intersection for their turn to grab a coveted tire and haul it up the main drag ….
Then take the plunge off a mini mountain top and helped a spin master who offered the choice of backwards, forwards or just a tuque-raising run straight down the icy hill hoping not to bounce into the hay bail guard rails.
Thirty seconds of sheer chilling terror and fun — not for the faint of heart.
Call it the Wilful & Wild Muskoka Way to go downhill.
A winterlude a dude just can’t forget.

And if that wasn’t enough — you could get back in line one more time. As many did — and not just those under age 20 with their puffy rainbow coloured snowsuits.
Tiny tots had their own shortened 25-foot plastic version up top of the chill hill.
A highlight of the weekend, which did see some sun Sunday, the crowd favourite escorted thrill seekers into the block below for more games, food, crafts and musical entertainment.
With a breath of cold in the air and the joy of January in their hearts the Heart of Muskoka came alive in a wonderful mid-winter respite from all the shovelling snow.








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